Filling the fuel tank on any aircraft can get expensive especially if you are the owner or are have to pay for the fuel at a remote location. The larger the helicopter, the bigger the engine and the more engines it has will dictate how much fuel it burns each hour.

When I have to fuel up from a supplier that the company does not have an account with it is a great way to collect points on my visa! But be sure so have room on the card, especially if you are in a remote airport!

Smaller piston-powered helicopters will burn anywhere from 5-20 gallons/19-76 liters of fuel per hour whereas larger turbine-powered helicopters can burn between 25-1100 gallons/95-4165 liters of fuel per hour. The more engines a helicopter has, the more fuel it burns.

Read on to find out some cool facts and figures on helicopter fuel!

Typical Helicopter Fuel Burn Rates:

How Much Fuel Does a Helicopter Burn?

Helicopters all vary in size and the number of engines they have. The bigger the helicopter, the larger its engine or engines and the more thirsty they become.

One of the first questions I often get asked when I’m flying is “How much fuel does your bird burn“?
My current machine is a Eurocopter/Airbus AS350 B2 which is a single-engine helicopter and is one of the most popular and versatile machines used across the globe.

This helicopter burns on average around:

• 180 Litres per hour
• 47 US Gallons per hour
• 315 Pounds per hour
• 143 Kilograms per hour

Helicopters burn the most amount of fuel when using the most power and this occurs at two places in the ‘Power Required Curve’.

The first place is when the helicopter is hovering and full of people, lifting a heavy load off the ground with a longline or slings or hovering high in the mountains. This is at the Zero Airspeed point of the curve.

The second place is when the helicopter is traveling at high speed and having to overcome the drag created by the fuselage (Parasite Drag) and the drag created by the higher pitch angle of each rotor blade as it moves through the air (Profile Drag).

Learn More…
Try These Articles:
* How Much Can a Helicopter Lift? 20 Helicopters Compared!
* How Fast Can a Helicopter Fly? Top 10 Civilian & Military Comparisons

How Much Fuel Does a Helicopter Hold?

Most helicopters are designed to hold enough fuel for between 1.5 – 3 hours of flying and a 20 minute reserve. The more fuel the helicopter burns the larger the fuel tank is made to achieve this duration. Additional fuel tanks can be fitted to extend the flight time for ferry flights and Search & Rescue.

Everything in aviation is all about compromise. A helicopter that can fly for long periods of time needs a lot of fuel, but that fuel takes up space and weight.

Also, the aircraft designers try to keep the fuel as close to the main rotor mast as possible to stop the aircraft’s center of gravity drastically changing as the fuel tank empties.

Most helicopters will have a fuel tank that will last approximately 2¹/₂ – 3 hours of operational flying with a 20 min reserve. Which is good because after 2 hours I’m ready to stretch my legs!

Some of the larger helicopters that are used to fly to offshore oil & gas platforms can have additional fuel tanks fitted in them. The Sikorsky S92 and the Agusta A139 are prime examples of this.

As helicopters begin to fly further, the oil & gas platforms begin to spread further in greater numbers. The farthest rigs can only be serviced by boat or by refueling the helicopters at other platforms before continuing on.

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What Type of Fuel Does a Helicopter Burn?

Helicopters use two types of fuel depending on the type of engines they have. Piston-powered helicopters use a gasoline-based fuel called AvGas 100LL which is blue in color. Turbine-powered helicopters use a kerosine-based fuel called JetA and this is clear in color.

AvGas is a high-octane gasoline fuel with a higher refinement which provides for a cleaner, filtered fuel that is also used in most small planes.
The most common AvGas used in aviation today is 100LL. This is 100 octane Low Lead and it is dyed Blue to ensure pilot has the right fuel before filling up their aircraft.

Jet Fuel is the second type of fuel used in helicopters. This is the same fuel used in the large airliners you fly on to go on vacation. It is used in all aircraft that have a gas turbine engine.

Most helicopters that can carry 5 passengers or more will have a gas turbine engine. For a piston engine to create enough power to lift a heavy helicopter it would be very large and weigh a lot. The gas turbine engine provides much more power for its weight.

Jet fuel is a kerosene-based fuel that mainly comes in two types. Jet-A and Jet-A1. Jet-A1 is an improved fuel over Jet-A in that it can be used down to -47°C (-40°F) rather than -40°C (-53°F) of Jet-A. Another addition to Jet-A1 is that it contains an anti-static additive to help prevent electrical static build-up to make it safer.

Jet fuel is clear and smells like diesel. When filling up a helicopter it is very easy to instantly tell what kind of fuel you have before putting it into your tank. Putting AvGas into a gas turbine helicopter or vice versa is a surefire way to make the aircraft engineer see red, especially if you have ran the engine with it before realizing your mistake!

Gas turbines burn fuel at a much higher rate compared to piston engines so their fuel burn rate is much higher and thus the fuel cost to operate a turbine-powered helicopter is much higher.
This is the main reason that small, piston-engined aircraft are popular for training and private ownership.

Whenever a pilot goes to fuel an aircraft, especially from an unknown source like another airport, remote fuel bowser or fuel drums there is a simple acronym drilled into us at flight school – COWS

C = Color – Blue (100LL AvGas) or Clear (Jet Fuel)
O = Odor – Diesel Smell (Jet Fuel) or Gasoline Smell (AvGas)
W = Water – Water in Fuel is a No-No
S = Sediment – Sediment in Fuel is a No-No

Learn More…
Try These Articles:
* Are Helicopters Faster Than Cars? Well, It Depends…
* How Much Do Airplanes Weigh? (With 20 Examples)

How Much Does It Cost To Fill a Helicopter?

The smallest single-seat helicopter like the Mosquito XE has a fuel capacity of 12 gallons/45 liters and costs around $60 to fill. The largest helicopter in the world, the Mil Mi-26T has a fuel tank capacity of 3170 gallons/12,000 liters and costs around $13,315 to fill.

Just like regular gas for your car, the price of both AvGas and Jet fuel fluctuates and can cost different prices in different places.

In 2020 the price of fuel in the lower 48 is as follows:

100LL AvGas = From $4.60 to $5.34 per gallon
Jet A Jet Fuel = From $3.90 to $4.54 per gallon
Source: 100LL.com

The thing to consider is the more remote the fuel cache, the more the fuel will cost. When flying up in the Northern Arctic regions and refueling from airports it can be expensive.

For Example:

PABR – Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport – Barrow, Alaska
100LL = $11.40 per Gallon
Jet A1 = $5.90 per gallon

When working in an even more remote location and drums of fuel have to be brought out by helicopter, then the fuel price can get even crazier!
It’s not unheard of to have drummed Jet A fuel at $30 per gallon and 100LL AvGas close to $50 per gallon!

Cost Example

Let’s look at how much fuel alone would cost you if you had to pay the fuel bills on the machines listed above:

AvGas based on an average of $5.00 per gallon
Jet A1 based on an average of $4.20 per gallon

How Long Does it Take to Refuel a Helicopter?

Portable helicopter refueling pumps deliver 15 gallons of fuel per minute. Airport fuel trucks deliver up to 50 gallons per minute. A helicopter requiring a full refuel of around 100 gallons can take between 2-7 minutes. A typical fuel stop for a helicopter is around 10-20 minutes.

By the time the helicopter has landed, shutdown, got fuel to the helicopter, refueled, and then ready for liftoff can be around 10-20 minutes. This usually gives the passengers time to use the bathroom, stretch their legs or have a small break.

Helicopters are thirsty machines, especially if it has gas turbine engine engines. Smaller helicopters using a piston-powered engine have a much slower fuel burn rate so the amount of fuel they carry is far less compared to their turbine counterparts, making them far quicker to fill up.

In the helicopter world there are three main ways that pilots get fuel into their machine:

1. Portable Fuel Transfer Pump

When working out in remote areas pilots need to refuel out of drums of fuel. These drums can be placed threre ahead of time by the helicopter company or via a fuel delivery merchant. The pilot carries onboard the helicopter a field fueling set comprising of an electric fuel pump fitted with hoses and filters.

The pilot lands, rolls up a drum or drums to the helicopter, assembles the fueling gear, and pumps the fuel from the drum into the helicopter.

Each 55 gallon fuel drum usually contains around 250 liters and these pumps run at around 15 gallons per minute, or 68 liters per minute. Depending on the size of the helicopters fuel tank and the amount of fuel the helicopter needs will dictate how long it takes to refuel, for example:

GPI Pump at 15GPM/68LPM:

On top of this, if the pilot requires more than 55gal/250l then they will require multiple drums. Usually, the most efficient way is to get one drum in place, inspected for water and sediment, and start pumping. While that drum is pumping then roll up more drums as required and get them opened and the fuel inspected so the pilot can easily move the fuel pump over to the next drum when the first is empty.

Fuelling this way is by far the slowest but when this is the only option to get fuel in remote locations you have no choice.

These fuel stops usually take around 20-40 minutes from landing to takeoff for most helicopters.

If you would like to see how this exact fuel stop is conducted see my video HERE:

2. Stationary/Temporary Fuel Bowser

When flying into a small or unmanned airport, or dedicated helicopter staging area they may contain a self-serve fuel bowser and fuel pump, very similar to how you refuel your vehicle. There is usually a bowser for Avgas which is used to fuel piston-engines aircraft and a Jet A bowser, used for fueling aircraft with gas turbine engines.

These fueling stations are usually located on the main apron and it’s a case of taxiing up close if your helicopter/airplane has wheels, or hovering and landing close in a helicopter with skids.

Just like your car, the pilot will insert a credit card or input a code into a keypad and begin fuelling via a long hose. These types of pump are usually quicker than a portable pump because they are powered off the airports’ electricity supply or are run by a gas-powered engine.

These types of installations are also very common at city heliports and will usually have a high-flow rate pump to ensure quick turnaround for minimal disruption to the aircraft passengers.

These bowser pumps are usually around the 20-50 gallons per minute / 90-227 liters per minute flow rate.

Bowser @30GPM/136LPM:

These types of refueling stations allow for the quickest refueling as the fuel hose can be quickly connected and the pumping began. Providing the installation has a high-flow fuel pump they can allow for fuel stops to be under 5-10 minutes in most helicopters.

3. Airport Fuel Truck

At most larger and manned airports a fuel truck will be available to drive to your location on the airport and replenish the aircraft with either Avgas or Jet A depending on what you requested.

Fuel trucks can be summoned by either calling the airport fuelers on a dedicated radio frequency, asking air traffic control to send the fuel truck to you, or by calling them on the telephone. The major problem with airport fuel trucks is that they can be busy and you may have to wait a considerable time for the truck to arrive. This unplanned delay can be frustrating for both the pilot and their customers/passengers!

Fuel trucks usually contain several pumps to cater for the type of aircraft to be fuelled. Hoses that connect under airplane wings use a pressurized system that can deliver up to 300 gallons per minute/1364 liters per minute per nozzle. Most helicopters however, can only be refueled using non-pressurized refueling, therefore the fuel truck can only dispense fuel at 50 gpm/227lpm.

Truck @50GPM/227LPM:

As you can see, the delivery rates for the airport fuel truck are by far the fastest but the waiting for the fuel truck to arrive can make it the slowest form of helicopter refilling, especially when the pilot and passengers are keen to get underway and a Boeing 737 has just landed and they take priority!

Where Do Helicopters Get Fuel?

Helicopters can be refueled with a mobile fuel truck at an airport, a fuel pump station at an airport, or via a bowser or fuel drums in remote locations. Most utility helicopters that refuel in remote locations carry onboard an electric fuel pump to move fuel from the browser or drum to the aircraft.

Due to the versatility of the helicopter, it can be used anywhere providing there is fuel. For helicopters flying around urban areas most pilots will call into nearby airports and heliports to refuel using either a mobile fuel truck, which they call out to their parking spot, or will land next to the airport fuel pumps, just like how you pull up to refuel your car.

For helicopters operating out in remote locations, the pilot will need to ensure that a fuel bowser or drums of fuel have been placed out in the field ahead of time. This can be accomplished by a contractor being hired to deliver the fuel to a specified location or by flying out drums ahead of time using a longline and a net or barrel slings.

If you would like to see how we refuel from a drum please watch the video below:-

When operating in remote locations fuel planning needs very careful attention to ensure there is fuel within reach, but you don’t spend too much time flying back and forth getting fuel when working with paying customers.

Many a time the helicopter is the emergency MedEvac machine for the customers and many will not let the pilot leave their crews alone in the wilderness to go and get fuel. For jobs like this, it is always best to fly out drums of fuel ahead of time to allow the pilot to refuel where the customers are working.

To Finish

Most helicopters will all have around a 2¹/₂ – 3 hours useful flight time and depending on the speed of that helicopter it can cover hundreds of miles in that time.

The bigger the aircraft, the more fuel it will burn, the more the fuel bill will cost you, and the longer it will take to refuel. If you are looking at learning to fly then the Robinson R22 and the Guimbal Cabri are two of the best, and cheapest helicopters to fly.

I for one would much prefer the fuel bill of a Robinson R22 over that of a Bell 205 A-1++. They are both single-engine helicopters, but they both have very different roles and capabilities with prices to match!

Lifting weight is the day job of every helicopter whether it is people or cargo. How much each helicopter can lift is based on its design and engine power. The more the helicopter can lift, the bigger the helicopter will have to be and the more it will cost to run.

A small Robinson R22 can lift up to 400lbs/180Kg, whereas the Mil Mi-26 can lift over 44,000lbs/20,000Kg. The most common helicopters lift between 2,000-4,000lbs/908-1,820Kg and are used extensively for construction, exploration & mining. Helicopters carry more weight on a belly hook Vs. internally.

Because helicopters can lift some tremendous weight some have been designed purely as Aerial Cranes and optimized to lift as much as possible for the least amount of money per hour.

Maximum Helicopter Weights

When an aircraft is certified it will be issued a Maximum Gross Weight figure. This figure is calculated to keep the helicopter controllable during all aspects of flight and emergencies and not overstress the airframe or engine/s during flight.

This Maximum Gross Weight is the total weight of the helicopter when it is first picked up into a hover. This total weight includes:

• Empty Weight of the Helicopter
• Pilot/s
• Passenger/s
• Cargo – Internal or External
• Fuel

To be able to lift more, one or some of these need to be reduced. For day-to-day operations the first variable to be reduced is the amount of fuel the pilot puts onboard. Second, is the cargo or passengers, but no matter how the aircraft is loaded the limit is always its Max Gross Weight figure.

For helicopters optimized for aerial lifting, the helicopter is stripped bare of all non-essential equipment or even go as far as designing the entire helicopter around the hook to lift as much as possible.

Most helicopters can lift the most amount of weight on a cargo hook attached to the belly of the aircraft. This is the weight limit that I based this list on.

To find out the Top 20 Most Powerful Lifting Helicopters keep on reading…

Top 20 Helicopter Lifting Capacities

20. Eurocopter SA315b ‘Lama’

Developed for the Indian Army in the 1960’s by Aérospatiale this soon got the nickname ‘The Mule’ by its pilots because it would carry everything!

Being great at high altitude this helicopter has been working the mountain construction sites for over 40 years. Its lightweight fuselage and powerful engine make it perfect as an aerial crane.

The Lama held the World Altitude Record (12,442m/40,820ft) for over 40 years until 2002 when Fred North flew to 12,954m/42,500ft in an AS350 B2 Astar.

Manufacturer:	Eurocopter
Engine:	1x Turbomeca Artouste IIIB1 Turboshaft
Engine Power:	870 hp
Maiden Flight:	1969
Max Gross Weight:	4,200 lbs 1,950 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	2,500 lbs 1,135 kg

Heli-Archive SA315B Website

---

19. Airbus H125 ‘Astar’

The latest offering of the Legendary AS350 Astar or Squirrel depending on which side of the Atlantic you live.

Originally designed by Aérospatiale, then Eurocopter, the Astar is the world’s most popular workhorse.

In operation all over the globe its versatility lends itself to pretty much any form of work and now with an increased lifting capacity of over 3,000lbs its popularity just keeps growing!

Manufacturer:	Airbus Helicopters
Engine:	1x Arriel 2D
Engine Power:	847 hp
Maiden Flight:	1974
Max Gross Weight:	6,173 lbs 2,800 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	3,085 lbs 1,400 kg

Airbus H125 Website

18. Bell 212HP

The ‘Twin Huey’! Originally designed for the Canadian Military this helicopter has found its way into many Militaries around the world.

Because of its capacity to transport 14 passengers and lift 3,500 lbs this is a great machine for Heli-Skiing and Fire Fighting.

Being a 2-engine version of the Bell 205 (Below) it is heavier thus unable to lift as much, but has a second engine if the first goes quiet!

Manufacturer:	Bell Helicopter
Engine:	2x Pratt & Witney – PT6T-3B
Engine Power:	1,800 hp each
Maiden Flight:	1968
Max Gross Weight:	11,200 lbs 5,080 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	3,500 lbs 1590 kg

Bell 212 Wikipedia Website

17. Bell 205A-1++

If you head to any of the forest fires around the world you can bet you will see a plethora of Bell 205’s working!

This latest version of the original Bell Huey is a tried & tested workhorse that is still going strong today.

Production ended in the late 1980’s but they are still going strong!

Manufacturer:	Bell Helicopter
Engine:	1 x Lycoming T53-17A
Engine Power:	1,800 hp
Maiden Flight:	1956
Max Gross Weight:	10,500 lbs 4,770 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	4,200 lbs 1,920 kg

Bell 205 Wikipedia Website

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15. Bell 214B-1 ‘Big Lifter’

One of the ‘Old-Timers’ still kicking around the fires, forests, and construction sites around the globe.

This single-engine crane is a great lifter but is slowly dwindling in numbers due to lack of parts/support, even though this is the most powerful single-engined helicopter still flying.

Manufacturer:	Bell Helicopter
Engine:	1 x Lycoming T55-08-D Turboshaft
Engine Power:	2,930 hp
Maiden Flight:	1970
Max Gross Weight:	16,000 lbs 7,260Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	6,500 lbs 2,950 kg

McDermott Aviation 214B-1 Website

Learn More…
Try These Articles:
* How Much Fuel Does a Helicopter Burn? Get Your Visa Card Out!
* How High Can You Go In a Helicopter? Can You Land On Mount Everest?

14. Sikorsky UH-60M ‘Black Hawk’

After Boeing’s Chinook, this is one of the world’s most recognized military multi-role helicopters.

Designated UH-60 for the US military and S-70 for the global markets this helicopter comes in as many variants as it does paint jobs!

In recent years it has moved into the civilian world as firefighting and construction helicopters and is making a very good impression.

Manufacturer:	Sikorsky Aircraft
Engine:	2 x General Electric T700-GE-701C Turboshaft
Engine Power:	1,890 hp each
Maiden Flight:	1974
Max Gross Weight:	23,500 lbs 10,660 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	9,000 lbs 4,100 kg

Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60M Website

13. NHIndustries NH90

Built by a European consortium of Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo & Fokker Aerostructures to meet the requirement from NATO for a multi-role medium-lift military helicopter.

In service with 13 Countries’ Armed Forces in either as a Naval or Tactical Transport Helicopter.

This helicopter leads the technological race as it was the first true Fly-By-Wire Helicopter.

Manufacturer:	NHIndustries
Engine:	2 x Turbomecca RTM 322-01/9A
Engine Power:	2,417 hp each
Maiden Flight:	1995
Max Gross Weight:	23,370 lbs 10,600 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	9,250 lbs 4,200 kg

NHIndustries NH90 Website

12. Sikorsky S61N

The civilian variant of the hugely popular CH-3 Sea King, the S61N helicopter is a construction and firefighting premier.

Being easily configurable into a variety of roles makes it a very versatile aircraft with a huge 10,000lb hook capacity.

Although being retired from many armed forces across the world this allows more of them to enter the commercial sector as an efficient and flexible member of any fleet.

Manufacturer:	Sikorsky Aircraft
Engine:	2 x General Electric CT58-140 Turboshaft
Engine Power:	1,500 hp each
Maiden Flight:	1959
Max Gross Weight:	19,000 lbs 8,620 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	10,000 lbs 4,550 kg

Cougar Helicopters S61N Website

11. Airbus H225 ‘Super Puma’

The latest generation of Super Puma from Airbus Helicopters. Building on the legendary heritage or the AS332 of Aérospatiale and then Eurocopter.

This machine is a great all-round helicopter. Great legs for Off-Shore Oil & Gas, Search & Rescue. Lots of cabin room for military troop transport and then power for serious lifting on construction projects and fire fighting.

In Military service with over 9 countries and 10 countries in a civilian role says it all!

Manufacturer:	Airbus Helicopters
Engine:	2 x Turbomeca Makila 2A1
Engine Power:	2100 hp each
Maiden Flight:	2000
Max Gross Weight:	24,690 lbs 11,200 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	10,470 lbs 4,750 kg

Airbus Helicopters H225 Website

9. Mi-38T

The latest heavy-utility helicopter from the Russian Helicopter Company. This helicopter was built to compete against Sikorsky’s S92 and Leonardo’s AW101.

Primarily targeted for Military, Offshore and Search & Rescue operations this helicopter can move a lot!

With an advanced composite structure, integrated avionics and powerful engines this is a great flagship for the country.

Manufacturer:	Russian Helicopters
Engine:	2 x Klimov TV7-117V
Engine Power:	2,800 hp each
Maiden Flight:	2003
Max Gross Weight:	34,300 lbs 15,600 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	11,000 lbs 5,000 kg

Russian Helicopters Mi-38T Website

8. Columbia 107-II ‘Vertol’

In 2006 Columbia Helicopters gained the FAA Type Certificate for the CH-46 from Boeing to be able to commercially use and modify the Vertol to optimize it primarily for logging & construction.

This is the smallest tandem-rotor helicopter in the Columbia fleet allowing for heavy loads to be moved but at a lower cost than the Chinook.

Manufacturer:	Columbia Helicopters
Engine:	2 x General Electric CT58 140-11
Engine Power:	1,400 hp each
Maiden Flight:	1958
Max Gross Weight:	22,000 lbs 9,980 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	11,500 lbs 5,200 kg

Columbia Helicopters 107-II Website

7. Leonardo AW101 ‘Merlin’

Developed under a joint venture between the UK and Italy this medium-lift helicopter has found its way into many roles not just in the military but Search & Rescue and VVIP Transport around the world.

Although it is not primarily an external load lifter, it can lift up to 12,000 lbs on the hook if required by any of the 13 Navy’s that it sees operation with around the world.

Manufacturer:	Leonardo
Engine:	3 x General Electric CT7-8E
Engine Power:	2,527 hp each
Maiden Flight:	1987
Max Gross Weight:	34,400 lbs 15,600 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	12,000 lbs 5,500 kg

Leonardo AW101 Website

5. Boeing CH-47F ‘Chinook’

One of the most globally recognized helicopters on the battlefield this latest generation ‘F’ variant is a real asset to the world’s militaries.

Whether it is carrying troops, slinging heavy equipment, or being used as a Medevac ship this beast is a true multi-role helicopter.

With continuous design development and avionic & engine upgrades, this helicopter will be around for decades to come.

Manufacturer:	Boeing
Engine:	2x Lycoming T55-GA-714A Turboshaft
Engine Power:	4,700 hp each
Maiden Flight:	2001
Max Gross Weight:	50,000 lbs 22,680 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	24,000 lbs 10,886 kg

Boeing CH-47 Chinook Website

3. Sikorsky CH-53K ‘King Stallion’

The latest generation of this military-moving monster.

The ‘K’ variant is currently in service with the United States Marine Corps with additional contracts to supply Germany and Israel.

This immense helicopter can carry 55 troops at 170kts! That is some serious firepower unloading out the back!

Manufacturer:	Sikorsky Aircraft
Engine:	3 × General Electric GE38-1B Turboshaft
Engine Power:	7,500 hp each
Maiden Flight:	1964
Max Gross Weight:	84,700 lbs 38,400 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	27,000 lbs 12,200 kg

Sikorsky CH-53K Website

2. Columbia 234UT ‘Chinook’

The largest helicopter in the Columbia fleet this modified, light-weight Chinook is a common sight at large construction projects around the world.

Just like the Vertol, Columbia Helicopters also gained the FAA Type Certificate for the CH-47 from Boeing to be able to commercially use and modify the Chinook to optimize it for logging, construction, and firefighting among many other roles.

Manufacturer:	Columbia Helicopters
Engine:	2x Honeywell AL5512
Engine Power:	4,075 hp each
Maiden Flight:	1982
Max Gross Weight:	51,000 lbs 23,100 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	28,000 lbs 12,700 kg

Columbia Helicopters 234UT Website

1. Mi-26T ‘Halo’

The absolute behemoth of the helicopter world and only the Russians can produce something of this size!

The Mi-26T from Russian Helicopters is the latest generation of this giant of the sky. With record-breaking specifications throughout its entire fuselage, this is the Worlds Biggest Load Lifting Helicopter able to take over 44,000 lbs (20,000 kg) on the hook!

Manufacturer:	Russian Helicopters
Engine:	2 × Ivchenko-Progress AI-136 Turboshaft
Engine Power:	11,400 hp each
Maiden Flight:	1977
Max Gross Weight:	123,450 lbs 50,000 Kg
Max Weight On Hook:	44,100 lbs 20,000 kg

Russian Helicopters Mi-26T Website

To Finish

The amount of weight a helicopter can lift is tremendous and finding the right helicopter to lift the weight required is simple considering and range of helicopter types.

All the data given in this article is based on performance at Sea-Level. The higher the helicopter goes, the lower the air density becomes so it will not be able to lift as much. In this case, you may have to get a bigger helicopter to lift the same load at a higher altitude.

Header Image:
MD500 Slinging in High Voltage Insulators – Source: Western Area Power

Helicopters are one of the most versatile machines in the aviation world but the distance they can go is far less than their fixed-winged counterparts, but the tradeoff to landing on a building or in a backyard when they arrive at their destination is a huge bonus.

Most helicopters are designed to fly between 200-450 miles. The average piston-engine helicopters have a range of around 200-350 miles, while the faster, gas-turbine powered helicopters can fly to around 300-450 miles. The larger Off-Shore and Search & Rescue helicopters can fly up to 800nm.

I decided to leave the military helicopters out of this article as many of them have the advantage of inflight refueling. To the civilian pilot or passenger that is not going to happen. The machines you can fly or charter are the topic for today’s article.

Range From Engine Type

There are two types of engines used in helicopters and those helicopters can vary drastically on the range at which they can go. Weight and the power they produce play a huge role.

The More Weight = The Less Fuel Can Be Carried
The More Power = The More Fuel Can Be Carried

Piston-engined helicopters are far cheaper to operate and maintain but the engines are much heavier. This makes them great for the flight schools and first-time helicopter owners as the requirement for them to travel long distances are minimal.

For the wealthy or those wishing to rapidly move company executives, the twin-engined, gas turbine helicopters are able to go much further due to the lower engine weight and the higher speeds they can fly at.

The most common helicopters used in the private and commercial world are:

To put this table into perspective, on average most of the helicopters will fly for around 2.5 hours with a 30 min fuel reserve in case of any unplanned delays on the route. Running out of fuel and having to make an emergency landing is very poor airmanship!

In most cases the faster the helicopter, the further it can go for a set amount of fuel. If you want a lazy cruise around the countryside with your family, the Robinson R44 is great.

However, if you need to get 4 executives to a meeting at an investor’s property 300 miles away, then back to the office to finalize the paperwork, then the fast Agusta 109 or Sikorsky S76 are the machines of choice. ( The pilot can go and refuel during the meeting 😉 )

But to fly really long distances and land in a small area you need to pull out the checkbook and put yourself on the waiting list for one of the machines below!

Top 5 Long Range Helicopters

Expanding the need for longer-range Offshore and Search & Rescue helicopters is always pushing the boundaries for helicopter manufacturers.
Here are the Top 5 Long-Range Helicopters in production today:

#1 Leonardo AW101

Max Range 1500 km / 810 nm

#2 Leonardo AW189

Max Range 1206 km / 651 nm

#3 Airbus Helicopter ACH175

Max Range 1135 km/ 613 nm

#4 Leonardo AW139

Max Range 1061 km / 573 nm

#5 Sikorsky S92

Max Range 1011 km / 546 nm

Range Data Sources:
Leonardo | Airbus | Lockheed Martin

Learn More…
Try These Articles:
* How Much Can a Helicopter Lift? 20 Helicopters Compared!
* How High Can You Go In a Helicopter? Can You Land On Mount Everest?

What Factors Affect Helicopter Range?

Range is the term used in aviation to determine the maximum distance an aircraft can fly for the fuel it has on board.

To achieve the maximum range possible a helicopter must have a low fuel burn rate, have a large fuel tank, be as light as possible, have minimal equipment to produce drag, have the wind blowing from behind, and fly at a high speed.

Aviation is all about saving weight & saving costs but providing the best product for the customer. Being able to fly as far as possible and as fast as possible is right at the top of that ‘Want’ list. But you can only get so far.

Here are some of the things that affect how far a helicopter can fly:

Fuel Burn Rate

Fuel efficiency is always at that top of the engine manufacturers’ design list. The less fuel an engine burns for a given power requirement, the longer the fuel will last.

Piston-powered engines are far more fuel-efficient than the gas turbines, but the power they produce for the size and weight of the engine is nowhere near the gas turbines. This is why you only find piston engines in small helicopters.

Eg:
Robinson R44 – 4 Seat Helicopter – 15 Gallons Per Hour Fuel Burn
Bell 206 Jetranger – 5 Seat Helicopter – 25 Gallons Per Hour Fuel Burn

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Fuel Tank Size

Although this may seem obvious, it is not as simple as just slapping in a bigger fuel tank at the design stage.
Helicopters have a maximum gross weight limit for flight.

Larger fuel tanks increase weight – Less weight to be able to take passengers and luggage/cargo.
Larger fuel tanks take up space – Less space for the passengers.

Larger fuel tanks create design challenges to find a place to fit them and they also need to be located in an area to balance the aircraft. Most helicopter fuel tanks sit under/around the main rotor mast to prevent the Center of Gravity from shifting wildly during flight as the fuel burns off.

Additional Fuel Tanks

Many of the larger helicopters designed for the Off-Shore and Search & Rescue markets have provisions for additional or auxiliary fuel tanks to be installed in them to greatly improve their range. This is great for the larger machines that have the space, but what about the smaller aircraft?

Generally, the smaller helicopters listed above will be confined to general use with the fuel tank they have, but for long trips, temporary bladder-type fuel tanks can be installed in the passenger compartment.

These are great for delivering helicopters from North America to Europe when you have to cross the Atlantic Ocean via Greenland or similar journeys. Great for range, useless for passengers!

Wind

No matter what range data the manufacturer’s release for their helicopters or what fuel burn rate the engine will do, the wind is one of the biggest factors when it comes to range.

Wind can be a pilot’s friend or a pilot’s nemesis when trying to get somewhere far away.

A wind blowing from behind you (Tailwind) will help push the helicopter in flight – This can dramatically increase how far a helicopter can fly before the fuel runs out.
If flying at 100kts with a 20kt tailwind, the aircraft shadow will theoretically be moving over the ground at 120kts.

A wind blowing towards you (Headwind) will be preventing you from going as fast in flight, thus covering less distance – This can dramatically decrease how far you can fly.
If flying at 100kts with a 20kt headwind, the aircraft shadow will theoretically be moving over the ground at 80kts.

The stronger wind, the more it affects how far the aircraft gets. Pilots can plan to use the wind by looking at the reported wind directions and speeds at different altitudes for the route.

The earth’s surface creates friction as the wind blows over it, this slows down the wind and changes its direction. Winds can be a lot stronger at higher altitudes. By picking a strong tailwind at 5000 feet, this can really help get far, but if the wind is reported to be a headwind the whole way, then a lower altitude may give a weaker wind to fly into.

Weight

I briefly mentioned how every aircraft has a Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) Limit. For each helicopter, this is set by the manufacturer during the aircraft’s design & certification process.

This MGW is the heaviest the helicopter can be at any time and it has to include the helicopter itself, the pilot/s, the passengers, luggage/cargo, and fuel. The only variables are the number of passengers, the amount of stuff they have, or fuel.

Fuel is usually the first variable that is reduced to make sure the total weight remains under the MGW limit for the aircraft. Reducing fuel will also reduce how far it can fly before the Go-Go juice runs out.

It is always a compromise when weight is a factor. The pilot can either take everyone and their stuff, but not fly as far, or leave someone behind and fill the tank full and fly farther!

Speed

The faster a helicopter flies the further it is going to get right? Nope! The faster the helicopter flies, the more fuel it burns so helicopter manufacturers will give set speeds for the pilot to maintain to give the specific outcome the pilot is after.

For Example:

Vne – Fastest Speed Limit. This is just about pure speed, not fuel consumption, or how far it can go. Medevac Helicopters on short trips.

Endurance – This is a speed that will allow the helicopter to stay in the air the longest. Wind, distance, or flying fast is not a deciding factor. News Helicopters covering a developing story.

Range – This is a speed that will allow the aircraft to get as far as possible with the given fuel available. Transiting over the ocean.

A Search & Recuse helicopter is a great example of how these speeds are utilized.
The pilot will fly at the helicopters ‘Best Range Speed’ to fly out to the last known location of a sinking ship. Then once there, the pilot will change to the ‘Best Endurance Speed’ to spend as much time in the air searching the grid for survivors.

Learn More…
Try These Articles:
* How Fast Can a Helicopter Fly? Top 10 Civilian & Military Comparisons
* Helicopters: Can They Fly Across an Ocean?

How Can a Helicopter Increase its’s Range?

Drag is one of the biggest factors to slowing down and reducing how far a helicopter can go. The more drag that is created, the more power is required to maintain a set speed.
More power required = More fuel to be burned = Less fuel to travel further.

Helicopters that have items like winches, searchlights, ski/utility baskets, or wider cargo bays (known as Squirrel Cheeks on the Astar) create drag. One of the machines I fly has a ski/utility basket and squirrel cheeks and I can only get it to fly at 105kts before I reach the maximum power limit.

Another Astar without a ski basket and squirrel cheeks has less drag and can fly faster. That machine will fly at 120kts before reaching its maximum power and therefore can fly further before it gets low on fuel.

Helicopter Range Development

Helicopters are entering into a new era where the distance they can go is the next big evolution. Being able to fly as fast and far as a plane, then hover or land when at their destination is the holy grail for helicopter designers.

Commercial Tilt Rotor Helicopters and Hybrid Helicopters are in the design works (Outside of the Military) to push these boundaries. In the next 10-20 years, I think these aircraft are going to be seen more and more and really allow helicopters to travel great distances.

Tilt Rotor Helicopters

Building on the success of the Bell/Boeing V22 Osprey Military Tilt Rotor helicopter the AW609 from Leonardo is well on its way to becoming a commercial version.

From its first ground tests in 2002, this aircraft has gone through an intensive design & testing program that will continue into the early 2020’s. Offshore Oil & Gas, Search & Recuse and VIP Charter are the prime target markets for Leonardo with this design.

When in ‘Plane’ configuration, this machine has a cruise speed of 275kts and a range of 1850km or 1000nm!
For more information on the AW609 visit Leonardo’s website HERE

Hybrid Helicopters

The latest development from Airbus, formerly Eurocopter is the X3. This hybrid helicopter uses a combination of a main rotor for lift and pusher props for propulsion.

Based on a modified Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin airframe this machine cruises at 255kts however, Airbus is still keeping tight-lipped about its range, but you can be sure it is going to be vast!

To Finish

For most helicopters available to the general public you can look to be flown a few hundred miles in most of the smaller helicopters. For the larger 2 & 3 engined helicopters, they will be taking you well over 500 miles and if you wait a few more years then the 1000 mile milestone will be in reach!

Helicopters are great for what they are designed to do – get into the places that planes cannot. If you truly want to get somewhere far that has a runway, then a plane is your best option, however, if you need to travel to a classy golf course to close that deal, then the helicopter is your best option.