The Low Temperature Properties of Aviation Fuels

A review is presented of work on the low temperature properties of aviation turbine fuels that has been carried out in recent years at Thornton Research Centre. Details of both simulated full scale aircraft tank tests and laboratory evaluations are included. Zero hold up is considered as a low temperature specification parameter and a novel method for measuring its value is described. Experimental results are presented which demonstrate that a change from a freezing point to a flow criterion could provide an increase in fuel availability without prejudicing flight safety.