Fuel Consumption

[ORC]

This may seem a simple question and i do know exact answers cant be given as there are a lot of variables involved, However I have just been reading an advert on Ebay for a Bell 47 it quotes a figure of fuel consumption of 46 litres an hour I was wondering if this was near the mark or just sales hype. If anyone would like to add consumption figures for aircraft types that they fly I would be interested. Im not after sales brochure figures but what you get in practise.

Thanks in advance

incase anyone wants a Bell 47 here is the link, but I do think a paint job is needed as its painted up like a New York checker cab.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CLASSIC-BELL-47-HELICOPTER_W0QQitemZ270294807483QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270294807483&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
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R22 2.6 h/r  wanting more, a hell of a lot more

[afterburner]

Well, the Bell 47 with the standard engine consumes a bit more like 13 gph.

My Schweizer 300CBI burns about 11 an hour with the 180 hp, with the C model dumping a bit more like 13 with the derated 190 hp.

If you have the bucks, then you can fly the Bell 206B
Ranger III at 29 gph or the Hughes 500D at 34 gph!

Then again, you might find yourself in a Huey burning 96 gph.

But the most economical I think is the AS350 at 50gph! What a bargain.

Hope that helps you.
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"A Copter Pilot's Life has it's... ups and downs"
Bell 47-206, Schweizer 300/500, Citation 525

[Jen]

The R22 Beta II is 9-10 gph

[Hughes500]

Afterburner I know there is a difference between Imperial gallons and US gallons but I think you have a problem with the Allison in your D model if you are using that much fuel unless you have a R engine


Owned the following 369's
3 x 369E models at 75 psi 110 to 120 litres an hour on average
current D model 75 psi 110 litres
2 x 369 cmodels at 55psi 95 ltrs

have owned 7 different S300c models, average is below
20" = 44l /hr
22" = 50l/hr
24" = 55l/hr

Bell 206 at 100%
120ltrs / hr

SA341
180 litres / hr

AS355
225 litres an hour

Friends who have B47's reckeon on 65 l / hr in a fast cruise ( walking pace !!!!)

[afterburner]

[ExmoorHeli]

Hmmm. Very interesting. So the fuel consumption of the B206 is a bit over twice that of the 300C. But I seem to remember reading that the price of turbine fuel is roughly half that of Avgas so the basic fuel cost per 100 miles is roughly comparable. Right or wrong?

Does anyone have figures for the R44?
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PPL(H) student flying from Dunkeswell; Schweizer 300C

[ORC]

[Hughes500]

Afterburner

Dont believe everything in the book !

My figures are from actual operating my machines ( 5 over the years )
Bear in mind the 206 and 500 have the same engine !! I have never ever used more than 115 litres an hour in any 500 other than a C20R machine. Normally cruise at 75psi plus, just 6 psi less than max continuous. Bourne out by last weekend, flew for 2 hours 40 minutes at 75psi ( fargo add tank)low fuel warning light still not on ( set at 35 litres) at end of flight, if I was using 128 litres an hour I would have run out.

[Hughes500]

Old rookie

It gets worse

500D uses 110 litres an hour at 130 kts, fuel is currently .62p per litre ( inc vat) therefore to cover 100nm 500D uses 84 litres or £52

300C uses 50 litres an hour at 70 kts or 70.5 litres of avgas to cover 100 nm( £ 1.59 a litre) equals £ 112

Mind you the fuel costs is not the most expensive bit of running a machine !!!

[afterburner]

Hughes500,

Um. Something to keep an eye on. I have gotten some of the "numbers" you mention and other times not.
I appreciate your "ownership" knowledge. Sometimes when you only "fly" the machine, you tend not to keep such an exact watch on the Lph or gph. It becomes simpy "gas in....gas out".

Thanks for your great input as always.

Fly safe.
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"A Copter Pilot's Life has it's... ups and downs"
Bell 47-206, Schweizer 300/500, Citation 525

[Average_Bloke]

Fuel consumption for the 300C's is a hard one to pin down generally speaking because no O/H facility seems to rig the FCU the same. Have logged around 10,000 hours in a C model and at time consumption has ranged from 42(too lean) and 50(too rich). I reckon I've averaged around 47 on ferry(24") and for mustering around 43.
Have around 400 hours in my CBi now and ferry seems to average around 45 and 41 for mustering....all figures in Literes/hour.
As 99% of my work is at around 2,000' AMSL I always get the O/H facility to set the FCU up for that altitude otherwise it is set for sea level operation and I'm 'running rich'.

Had problems with a FCU a few years ago..sent back to O/H 3 times and still running way too rich....on the 4th return they realised(and admitted!!) that the fluid they were useing in their test rig had a different viscosity to Avgas!!!...problem solved.