Simply put, no! Most helicopters are jet turbines which run on jet fuel. Most piston engine helicopters run on AVGAS which is 100 octane lowlead. Some homebuilts and gyrocopters use VW (old car) and Rotax (snowmobile) engines which can run on unleaded gas, but run much better on 100LL. So if it is a jet, no way. If is is gasoline powered use the premium fuel with an octane booster for a short flight to where you can get 100LL.
2007-02-22 02:17:16
·
answer #1
·
answered by yes_its_me 7
·
0⤊
3⤋
The main two types of engines used in helicopters are:
Piston and Turbo-shaft.
As stated in a earlier post, aircraft piston engines use 100 octain.
grade gas, the highest rated gas for car is 97. The EAA has tested auto grade in aircraft years ago and it is usable and you can use it if you do the paper work and file for an STC with the FAA.
Turbo-shaft engines in all the Helicopters I have worked on allow you to use gas in place of jet fuel. Some limit the total amount you can use before you have to overhaul the engine, others will state to add 1 qt of motor oil per every so many gallons.
The reason is simple, helicopters are working equipment and are
often at remote sites where it easier to buy local gas then truck jet fuel into the site.
2007-02-21 23:54:07
·
answer #2
·
answered by dfwprius 1
·
2⤊
1⤋
All aircraft engines that a certificated for 80/87 leaded gas can run on auto gas. Many airplanes have a STC to burn auto gas and here is a website that sells STCs for helicopters.
http://www.solatecllc.com/autogas.htm
And as an aside, the others that say the turbines will run on gas, they are right also. I worked an FBO to make money to get my pilot license. One night I was requested and I put 375 gallons of 100LL in a Lear 25. They had to check the manual to see how much they would need, because it burns faster than JetA, but it made a pretty blue flame on departure from CHK.
2007-02-23 13:46:29
·
answer #3
·
answered by eferrell01 7
·
2⤊
0⤋
Good Lord people! Read your flight manuals.
Yes, turbine engines will run on both avgas and auto gas. They won't run well, but they will run. They will produce enough power to fly, and they will get you where you're going. The tricky bit is, after a flight using any amount of gas, the fuel system has to be inspected, and after a cumulative 25 hours of burning gas, the fuel control has to be overhauled. An expensive prospect which limits any desire to try it except in extreme emergnecy.
I've burned regular highway diesel in helicopters, as well as the off-highway stuff. It tends to foul the fuel nozzles and smoke a lot, but has no other ramifications.
There are a number of certificated helicopters on the market today that run avgas; all of the Robinson products, several others. All smaller machines. Putting auto gas in them would violate the manufacturer's restrictions, and void the TBO (time between overhauls).
2007-02-22 04:45:13
·
answer #4
·
answered by lowflyer1 5
·
4⤊
1⤋
Most modern helicopters are jet turbine engines, which run on jet fuel, whose source is kerosene, not gasoline.
If you had an older model helicopter, ( Korean War issue? ) I would assume it ran on AvGas, ( "Blue Gas" ) which is a high octane aviation fuel that most Piper, Cessna-type aircraft use. Regular pump gasoline that you would put in your car runs at around 87 octane, high octane would be around 91-93 octane. AvGas is much higher due to the needs of an aviation motor.
I don't think you could run regular pump gas because it would cause problems for your engine. In an emergency situation, you could try it, but I cannot guarantee the results. I would certainly hate to think that your engine would malfunction in flight due to fuel problems. That situation could end up being worse than your original emergency.
2007-02-21 17:06:50
·
answer #5
·
answered by C J 6
·
2⤊
2⤋
There are helicopter models being built that have gasoline engines. The octane they use is 100 in a low-lead type. Want to know how an engine runs on lower than required octanes? Just mix a little water in you car's gas tank :)
2007-02-21 17:38:19
·
answer #6
·
answered by Pimpin 2
·
1⤊
1⤋
In a dire emergency, with the pilot's (and passenger's lives) hanging in the balance? Nope!! Sorry! It's not going to happen! The thing probably wouldn't get off the ground and even if it did, there's no sane pilot in the world going to risk it! The engine would ping itself to death (if it even started) since AvGas is a whole different type gasoline than automotive grade fuel (although some race cars in the early 1950's used avgas, since it is a much higher octane rating than pump fuel).
2007-02-21 16:59:39
·
answer #7
·
answered by Kiffin # 1 6
·
1⤊
3⤋
Thumbs up to lowflyer. Turbines will burn gasoline and diesel. The fuels were listed in the manuals for Army helicopters, and I believe the amount of hours you shouldn't exceed. There are also several copters with piston engines, look at the Robinsons.
2007-02-22 14:41:28
·
answer #8
·
answered by JET_DOC 2
·
3⤊
1⤋
Sure, if it has a gasoline powered engine! Now the question is: Are there helecopters with gasoline engines?
2007-02-21 16:58:49
·
answer #9
·
answered by arizonapolecat 2
·
0⤊
4⤋
Carry octane booster with you
2007-02-21 17:00:40
·
answer #10
·
answered by denbobway 4
·
0⤊
3⤋