Kerosene, paraffin, or lamp oil is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in aviation as well as households.
In the aerospace context, kerosene is a type of jet fuel used to power turbine engines in aircraft. It is a clear, colorless liquid that is derived from crude oil and is composed primarily of hydrocarbons. Kerosene is also known as jet fuel, JP-8, and Jet A.
Examples of aircraft that use kerosene as a fuel include:
- Commercial airliners, such as the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A380, which use kerosene to power their turbofan engines
- Military fighter jets and bombers, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the B-52 Stratofortress, which also use kerosene as their primary fuel
- Some helicopters, such as the CH-47 Chinook, also use kerosene as their primary fuel
- Many small general aviation aircraft, such as the Cessna 172, also use kerosene as an alternative fuel.
It should be noted that kerosene is not the only jet fuel available, there are other jet fuels like synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) and bio jet fuel which are being considered for use in the aerospace industry.