How to Fuel and Start a Plane or Helicopter

Choose Your Engine

Every airframe needs an Engine installed at the Plane Workbench. The Furnace Engine runs on furnace fuel such as coal or wood. The Liquid Engine runs on liquid fuel. The Electric Engine runs on charge and does not burn fuel at all. Pick the engine that matches the fuel you can supply.

Fuel the Engine

For a Furnace Engine, open the plane's inventory and place fuel in the engine slot, the same fuels a furnace accepts. For a Liquid Engine, fill it with the liquid fuel it accepts. For an Electric Engine, you need charge rather than fuel.

Charge with the Charging Station

Place a Charging Station block and connect it to your power source. Park the plane or helicopter on or beside the Charging Station so the Electric Engine can draw charge. A Solar Panel can feed the Charging Station to keep the Electric Engine topped up without manual refuelling.

Start and Take Off

Once the engine has fuel or charge, enter the aircraft and use the engine start control. The Propeller spins up and the plane or helicopter becomes controllable. If nothing happens, check that the engine slot actually contains fuel or charge and that the correct Engine type is installed. Use a Wrench to pull the engine and inspect it if the aircraft still will not start.