Jet Engines are commonly used on aircraft and work by the turbine or propeller blades at the front of the engine compressing the air inside the engine, where fuel is injected and combusted, creating thrust.

Jet Engines commonly use kerosene (distilled from oil, another form of petrol) as an airline fuel. (correct me if I'm wrong, I don't see how the boy from Home Alone managed to get Airline fuel to burn burglars)

Although Jet Engines don't have much accelleration, they can reach enormous speeds over time, allowing the creation of lift on the wings for the plane to take off.