Description
Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft
powered by gas-turbine engines. It is clear to straw-colored in
appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation
are Jet A and Jet A*1 which are produced to a standardized
international specification. The only other jet fuel commonly used
in civilian turbine-engine powered aviation is Jet B which is used
for its enhanced cold-weather performance. Jet fuel is a mixture of
a large number of different hydrocarbons. The range of their sizes
(molecular weights or carbon numbers) is restricted by the
requirements for the product, for example, the freezing point or
smoke point
Special grade of kerosine with a flash point of **5°F (*2°C), used
for jet aircraft; may have methane or naphthene added to produce a
**0°F (*3°C) flash point, for military aircraft. Kerosene-type jet
fuel (including Jet A and Jet A*1) has a carbon number distribution
between about 8 and *6 carbon numbers; wide-cut or naphtha-type jet
fuel (including Jet B), between about 5 and *5 carbon numbers
Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to
power aircraft. It is generally of a higher quality than fuels used
in less critical applications, such as heating or road transport,
and often contains additives to reduce the risk of icing or
explosion due to high temperatures, among other properties. Most
aviation fuels available for aircraft are kinds of petroleum spirit
used in engines with spark plugs, i.e. piston and Wankel rotary
engines, or fuel for jet turbine engines, which is also used in
diesel aircraft engines. Alcohol, alcohol mixtures and other
alternative fuels may be used experimentally, but alcohol is not
permitted in any certified aviation fuel specification
