In aircraft design, the term “range” refers to the maximum distance an aircraft can travel on a single tank of fuel or a single battery charge in the case of electric aircraft. It is a critical performance parameter because it determines how far an aircraft can fly without needing to refuel or recharge, which is essential for planning long-haul flights and missions.
The equation to calculate the range of an aircraft is typically given by:
- Range: Kilometers (km) or Nautical Miles (nmi)
- Fuel Capacity: Liters (L) or Gallons (gal)
- Fuel Efficiency: Kilometers per Liter (km/L) or Nautical Miles per Gallon (nmi/gal)
- Fuel Consumption Rate: Liters per Hour (L/hr) or Gallons per Hour (gal/hr)