Jerry cans in aircraft
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If the cap is going to leak, it'll leak no matter what the can's orientation. The weight of the fuel sloshing around will see to that. Replacement seals are cheap and easy to find.
I've never heard of a Jerry can bursting either.
I've never heard of a Jerry can bursting either.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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If you're feeling wealthy (probably before!), these guys do all sorts of tanks for aircraft, including some that are jerry can sized.
Bush Plane Long Range Fuel Bladder - Turtlepac
Bush Plane Long Range Fuel Bladder - Turtlepac
We carried fuel in 'jerry cans' often, and quite legally, here in Australia. There seems a belief that all jerrycans are metal, our approved ones are a plastic material with the correct International Approval moulded into the unit. UN1863 for JetA1 and UN1203 for Avgas, IIRC.
There was another thread Is it legal to carry extra avgas in a jerrycan which answered many of the questions here
There was another thread Is it legal to carry extra avgas in a jerrycan which answered many of the questions here
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Imagine that I wanted to carry, say, 60L of AVGAS in the back of an aircraft in jerry cans. What cans would one choose to use, and what precautions would one take in filling, flying, and refueling from them?
To answer the questions:
1/ Use standard steel jerry cans with good seals & no sign of rust.
2/ Place them on the ground when filling (not in the back of a pickup truck)
3/ Place them on the ground for 30 mins or so before loading to allow any static to discharge.
4/ Lash them securely in the a/c, preferably upright cos it looks better, the seals should hold even when they are inverted.
5/ Place them on the ground for a while to discharge any static picked up whilst airborne before earthing them to the frame & to the funnel & to ground before refueling from them.
6/ Preferably fill them with water rather than carry them empty.
On the basis that most steel jerrycans these days are shoddy bits of tin made in China, I would hesitate to endorse that sentiment. Our plastic jerrycans are not only far superior overall construction, they have the international approval stamp as mentioned before. I have yet to find an approved steel jerrycan.
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You can still get good ones in Europe. The latest one I bought is a little 10 litre version that came from a supermarket but is made in Germany and carries the (I think!) EN number as well as a date code.
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I've never heard of a Jerry can bursting either.
Fill a 20L jerrycan with Avgas and leave it in the hot sun (38-40°C) for 2-3 hrs, and you'll see the sides bulging seriously with the pressure.
The approved plastic jerrycans are a little safer, in that they don't have welded seams. However, they also swell alarmingly in the hot sun. Never had one burst or split, yet, though... but they can look pretty frightening on a hot day.
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I also have a 1943 one marked Kraftstoff, Feuergefahrlich, which I use regularly to take mogas to the airfield. The seal is better than on a my 3 year old jerrycan.
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Some years ago I ferried some Bulldogs from Scotland to Nigeria for the Nigerian Air Force. We used to lob into a dirt strip to top up with fuel between airports. We carried the fuel in jerry cans strapped into the passenger seats. Avoid aerobatics and open the canopy when you wanted a cigarette worked for us. Seemed to remember making a profit on the jerry cans when we got to Nigeria.
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Metal jerry cans don't actually burst, they split along the welded seams. Even more likely when they've been dragged around a bit, and had extensive use.
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The same comment goes for all the jerry cans on roofracks trundling around north Africa. I've never heard of any splits or leaks other than the seals for the cap.
I'd love to find one of those 1943 "originals" as well
I'd love to find one of those 1943 "originals" as well
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I'd love to find one of those 1943 "originals" as well 
Camping Stoves
I did a bunch of vacation travel with camping equipment including stoves and fuel bottles.
The stoves and tanks were left out in the sun the day before and I could safely hold a flame to the openings with nothing happening.
That was before bin Liner. The regs now refuse carriage of any stove or container that has ever been used
The stoves and tanks were left out in the sun the day before and I could safely hold a flame to the openings with nothing happening.
That was before bin Liner. The regs now refuse carriage of any stove or container that has ever been used
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There are very strict requirements for the carrying of anything by air classed as dangerous goods. Some years ago I was involved in the design and construction of some passive fire protection equipment for an oil rig situated off the coast Newfoundland. The lack of this equipment was costing $30k/day in lack of production. Naturally enough the owners were very keen to get the parts over to the rig. In the event they sent over the CEO's private jet to pick the stuff up, (involving the removal of seats etc.). Nonetheless, we could not just pile the parts into the aircraft as a very small portion was an industrial adhesive (very similar to Araldite). The hardener as a petroleum product was classed as hazardous and as such, the tubes had to be packed in inert fire retardent material. Despite the fact that the pilot was happy to take our assurances that the stuff would not instantanously combust, the airport authorities would not allow our parts to be loaded until safely packed.
Having observed this, how anyone can consider carrying jerrycans containing fuel inside the aircraft as being safe? On another thread on PPRune there has been talk of Atlantic crossings being carried out with the aid of ferry tanks which appear to be fitted in the cabin of the aircraft. To the untrained eye this looks extremely dodgy and I note with some horror the comparison with my own experience noted above.
Having observed this, how anyone can consider carrying jerrycans containing fuel inside the aircraft as being safe? On another thread on PPRune there has been talk of Atlantic crossings being carried out with the aid of ferry tanks which appear to be fitted in the cabin of the aircraft. To the untrained eye this looks extremely dodgy and I note with some horror the comparison with my own experience noted above.
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I'm now very worried about the fuel in my Jodel front tank, which is in a metal container just above my knees and two foot in front of my face... with all that electricity at the back of the panel, right next to it
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Avoid aerobatics and open the canopy when you wanted a cigarette worked for us.
Having observed this, how anyone can consider carrying jerrycans containing fuel inside the aircraft as being safe?
My Emeraude also has 80 litres over my knees & 40litres behind my back. Scary stuff.
