What really makes a plane fly.

So I’m sure that all those of us who have already made it back to the states took a plane home, and at some point while the plane was taxiing to and from the runway, or you were waiting for the slow people in front you to get their carry-on luggage and get off the plane, you looked out the window and saw some large fuel trucks. Now we all know that the fuel in there isn’t the same petrol that you put in your car, but what’s the difference?

When fuel for aviation was first deviating from gasoline used in automobiles, it was simply a matter of having a higher octane rating for the more powerful, high-performance engines used in planes. A higher octane rating means that the fuel can be compressed more before combustion, so it can be used in better engines. After the higher octane ratings were achieved, aviators wanted a safer fuel with a higher flash point. The flash point is the temperature at which something can catch fire when exposed to an open flame. Gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbons ranging from 4 to12 carbons per molecule, and it has a flash point of about 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Jet-A, the kerosene-based commercial jet fuel, was developed which contains hydrocarbons which have anywhere from 5-15 carbons. This fuel has a flash point of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This fuel can take the compression in jet engines, and is less likely to catch on fire. So the main lesson to take away from this is if you’re ever fueling up a plane, don’t use gasoline.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_fuel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_jet_fuel_and_car_fuel