Can you put gasoline in a helicopter?

Question

Can you put gasoline in a helicopter?

Answer 1

Depends on if it has a gas engine. There are many versions of choppers.

Answer 2

As the other answerers indicate, it depends on whether the engine is a gasoline engine.  Some helicopters are powered by gasoline engines and thus would use gasoline. However, many of the gasoline engines used in aviation require a special high-octane fuel referred to as 100LL (100 octane, low-lead).  Most pilots do not refer to this fuel as gasoline but instead call it 'avgas'.  Some aircraft with aviation engines that were designed to use 100LL have received STCs (supplemental type certificates) to allow them to use regular automotive gasoline as long as it meets certain criteria (minimum octane level and absence of alcohol in mixture, etc.).

Answer 3

you can put anything into a helicopter...most use JetA or 100LL..gasonline doesnt have the right octane number.

Answer 4

Depends.  For Turbines, no, they are jets so you should use jet fuel, for well, gas powered, then if you want it to go anywhere then you probably should.  I'm not a rotary wing pilot, but Id bet they run on 100 octane low leaded aviation gasoline just like most small airplanes.

Answer 5

Most commercial rotary-wing operations use turbine helicopters these days, but in the case of let's say, the Robinson R-22, they use Av gas as everyone mentioned here, there are however several kit helicopters you build yourself that can be modified to use auto gas. so if you are inclined to build a homebuilt type helicopter, many of these use the Rotax engines which are quite efficient, and yes, they use avgas...

Answer 6

I'd imagine it uses aviation gas (dyed blue, i think), that is if they use gasoline engines.

Answer 7

Certainly, if it is a gas engine, 'Av gas' is the preferred fuel, but in some cases under strict fuel regulations, regular auto gas can be used. Have a great day.

Answer 8

You are allowed to run some turbine helicopters on 100LL (AVGAS) for about 50 hours without any modifications or special maintenance.  Beyond that you have to check the hot section and turbine blades for lead contamination.

All piston helicopters can run on 100LL or car gasoline (MOGAS) if it is approved.  I don't know of any that are allowed to run on MOGAS but I imagine some homebuilt helicopters do.

Answer 9

wherever the aviation gasoline is a allowed fuel for the helicopter, the car gasoline might be a sufficient emergency replacement. however a rough running might be encountered and probably the engine manufacturers waranties would be declared void.

where there are jet engines aboard, the only advisable fuel is the proper jet fuel, depending on the make of the engine. Jet-a1 very likely. the gasoline have dramatically different burning characteristics to the jet fuel and would probably cause the engine fire.