For how long can a medium size helicopter (the sort the police use in London) fly without refuelling?

Question

No criminal intentions I assure you. I was watching one intermittently for several hours- might have been more than one machine- and thinking about fuel costs......

Answer 1

I worked at an FBO where I fueled Eurocopter AS350 Astars daily. They typically flew for two hours and burned about 65 gallons on average.

So at a fuel burn rate of about 33 gallons per hour (which is about as effeciently as they can opperate, typically they burn around 50 gph) it could fly for a little over 4 hours with its 143 gallon tank being topped off.

Answer 2

Are we contributing to crime if we answer?

Roughly three hours. I flew helo's in the CAF and most helo's of that size have that range.

Answer 3

Well, the London police fly the Eurocopter Twin Squirrel medium  helicopter, this chopper has a range of  480 miles.