Aircraft Range & Endurance Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate your aircraft's maximum range and endurance based on its fuel capacity, burn rate, and cruise speed. Remember to always account for reserve fuel for safe flight planning.
US Gal
US Gal/Hr
US Gal (e.g., 45 min for 8 GPH burn)
Calculation Results:
'; htmlOutput += 'Total Endurance: ' + totalEndurance.toFixed(2) + ' hours'; htmlOutput += 'Usable Endurance (before reserve): ' + usableEndurance.toFixed(2) + ' hours'; htmlOutput += 'Total Range: ' + totalRange.toFixed(2) + ' Nautical Miles (NM)'; htmlOutput += 'Usable Range (before reserve): ' + usableRange.toFixed(2) + ' Nautical Miles (NM)'; resultsDiv.innerHTML = htmlOutput; } .aviation-calculator-container { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 20px; border-radius: 8px; max-width: 600px; margin: 20px auto; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); } .aviation-calculator-container h2 { color: #333; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px; } .aviation-calculator-container p { color: #555; line-height: 1.6; } .calculator-inputs label { display: inline-block; width: 250px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #444; } .calculator-inputs input[type="number"] { width: 120px; padding: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; } .calculator-inputs button { display: block; width: 100%; padding: 10px 15px; background-color: #007bff; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 16px; cursor: pointer; margin-top: 20px; } .calculator-inputs button:hover { background-color: #0056b3; } .calculator-results { margin-top: 25px; padding: 15px; background-color: #e9f7ef; border: 1px solid #d4edda; border-radius: 5px; } .calculator-results h3 { color: #28a745; margin-top: 0; } .calculator-results p { margin: 5px 0; color: #333; }Understanding Aircraft Range and Endurance
For pilots and aviation enthusiasts, understanding an aircraft's range and endurance is fundamental to safe and efficient flight planning. These two critical metrics determine how far an aircraft can travel and how long it can stay airborne on a given amount of fuel.
What is Aircraft Range?
Aircraft range refers to the maximum distance an aircraft can fly from its departure point to its destination, typically measured in nautical miles (NM) or statute miles. It's a direct function of the aircraft's speed and its usable endurance. Factors like wind, altitude, aircraft weight, and engine settings (e.g., power setting for cruise) significantly impact the actual range achieved during a flight.
What is Aircraft Endurance?
Aircraft endurance is the maximum amount of time an aircraft can remain airborne on its available fuel, usually measured in hours. While range focuses on distance, endurance focuses on time. An aircraft might have a long endurance but a shorter range if it flies slowly, or vice-versa. Endurance is crucial for missions requiring loitering, search and rescue, or extended patrols.
The Importance of Reserve Fuel
A critical component of flight planning is accounting for reserve fuel. Aviation regulations (like those set by the FAA) mandate that aircraft carry a certain amount of fuel beyond what is needed to reach the destination. This reserve is for contingencies such as:
- Unexpected headwinds
- Diversions to an alternate airport due to weather or runway closures
- Holding patterns due to air traffic control delays
- Unforeseen mechanical issues requiring a longer flight path
Typically, for VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flights during the day, a pilot must carry enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and then for an additional 30 minutes at normal cruise speed. For night VFR or IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) flights, this reserve is often extended to 45 minutes or more. Our calculator allows you to input a specific reserve fuel amount, which is then subtracted from the total fuel capacity to determine the "usable" range and endurance, reflecting a more realistic operational capability.
How to Use the Aircraft Range & Endurance Calculator
Our calculator simplifies the estimation process by requiring just a few key inputs:
- Cruise Speed (KTAS): Enter the typical True Airspeed (TAS) your aircraft maintains during cruise flight. This is the speed relative to the air mass, corrected for altitude and temperature.
- Total Fuel Capacity (US Gallons): Input the total amount of fuel your aircraft can carry in its tanks.
- Fuel Burn Rate (US Gallons/Hour): Provide the average rate at which your engine consumes fuel during cruise. This can usually be found in your aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH).
- Reserve Fuel (US Gallons): Specify the amount of fuel you wish to keep in reserve for safety and regulatory compliance. You can calculate this by multiplying your fuel burn rate by your desired reserve time (e.g., 0.75 hours for 45 minutes).
Once these values are entered, the calculator will provide you with both the total and usable endurance (in hours) and range (in nautical miles), giving you a clear picture of your aircraft's capabilities for your next flight.
Example Calculation:
Let's consider a common general aviation aircraft:
- Cruise Speed: 120 KTAS
- Total Fuel Capacity: 50 US Gallons
- Fuel Burn Rate: 8 US Gallons/Hour
- Reserve Fuel: 9 US Gallons (equivalent to 1.125 hours or 67.5 minutes of flight at 8 GPH)
Using these inputs, the calculator would determine:
- Total Endurance: 50 Gal / 8 GPH = 6.25 hours
- Usable Fuel: 50 Gal – 9 Gal = 41 US Gallons
- Usable Endurance: 41 Gal / 8 GPH = 5.125 hours
- Total Range: 6.25 hours * 120 KTAS = 750 Nautical Miles
- Usable Range: 5.125 hours * 120 KTAS = 615 Nautical Miles
This example clearly shows the difference between theoretical maximums and practical, safe operational limits when accounting for reserve fuel.