Range (aeronautics)

Maximum Endurance and Range versus airspeed. The maximum endurance condition would be obtained at the point of minimum power required since this would require the lowest fuel flow to keep the airplane in steady, level flight. Maximum range condition would occur where the ratio of speed to power required is greatest. The maximum range condition is obtained at maximum lift/drag ratio (L/DMAX)

The maximal total range is the maximum distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft. The range can be seen as the cross-country ground speed multiplied by the maximum time in the air. The fuel time limit for powered aircraft is fixed by the fuel load and rate of consumption. When all fuel is consumed, the engines stop and the aircraft will lose its propulsion.

Ferry range means the maximum range that a aircraft engaged in ferry flying can achieve. This usually means maximum fuel load, optionally with extra fuel tanks and minimum equipment. It refers to transport of aircraft without any passengers or cargo.

Combat radius is a related measure based on the maximum distance a warplane can travel from its base of operations, accomplish some objective, and return to its original airfield with minimal reserves.

Derivation[]

For most unpowered aircraft, the maximum flight time is variable, limited by available daylight hours, aircraft design (performance), weather conditions, aircraft potential energy, and pilot endurance. Therefore, the range equation can only be calculated exactly for powered aircraft. It will be derived for both propeller and jet aircraft. If the total mass ${\displaystyle W}$ of the aircraft at a particular time ${\displaystyle t}$ is:

${\displaystyle W}$ = ${\displaystyle W_{0}+W_{f}}$,

where ${\displaystyle W_{0}}$ is the zero-fuel mass and ${\displaystyle W_{f}}$ the mass of the fuel, the fuel consumption rate per unit time flow ${\displaystyle F}$ is equal to

${\displaystyle -{\frac {dW_{f}}{dt}}=-{\frac {dW}{dt}}}$.

The rate of change of aircraft mass with distance ${\displaystyle R}$ is

${\displaystyle {\frac {dW}{dR}}={\frac {\frac {dW}{dt}}{\frac {dR}{dt}}}=-{\frac {F}{V}}}$,

where ${\displaystyle V}$ is the speed), so that

${\displaystyle {\frac {dR}{dt}}=-{\frac {V}{F}}{\frac {dW}{dt}}}$

It follows that the range is obtained from the definite integral below, with ${\displaystyle t_{1}}$ and ${\displaystyle t_{2}}$ the start and finish times respectively and ${\displaystyle W_{1}}$ and ${\displaystyle W_{2}}$ the initial and final aircraft masses

${\displaystyle R=\int _{t_{1}}^{t_{2}}{\frac {dR}{dt}}dt=\int _{W_{1}}^{W_{2}}-{\frac {V}{F}}dW=\int _{W_{2}}^{W_{1}}{\frac {V}{F}}dW\quad \quad (1)}$

Specific range[]

The term ${\displaystyle {\frac {V}{F}}}$, where ${\displaystyle V}$ is the speed, and ${\displaystyle F}$ is the fuel consumption rate, is called the specific range (= range per unit mass of fuel; S.I. units: m/kg). The specific range can now be determined as though the airplane is in quasi steady-state flight. Here, a difference between jet and propeller driven aircraft has to be noticed.

Propeller aircraft[]

With propeller driven propulsion, the level flight speed at a number of airplane weights from the equilibrium condition ${\displaystyle P_{a}=P_{r}}$ has to be noted. To each flight velocity, there corresponds a particular value of propulsive efficiency ${\displaystyle \eta _{j}}$ and specific fuel consumption ${\displaystyle c_{p}}$. The successive engine powers can be found:

${\displaystyle P_{br}={\frac {P_{a}}{\eta _{j}}}}$

The corresponding fuel weight flow rates can be computed now:

${\displaystyle F=c_{p}P_{br}}$

Thrust power, is the speed multiplied by the drag, is obtained from the lift-to-drag ratio:

${\displaystyle P_{a}=V{\frac {C_{D}}{C_{L}}}Wg}$ ; here Wg is the weight (force in newtons, if W is the mass in kilograms); g is standard gravity (its exact value varies, but it averages 9.81 m/s²).

The range integral, assuming flight at constant lift to drag ratio, becomes

${\displaystyle R={\frac {\eta _{j}}{gc_{p}}}{\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}}}\int _{W_{2}}^{W_{1}}{\frac {dW}{W}}}$

To obtain an analytic expression for range, it has to be noted that specific range and fuel weight flow rate can be related to the characteristics of the airplane and propulsion system; if these are constant:

${\displaystyle R={\frac {\eta _{j}}{gc_{p}}}{\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}}}\ln {\frac {W_{1}}{W_{2}}}}$

Electric aircraft[]

An electric aircraft with battery power only will have the same mass at takeoff and landing. The logarithmic term with weight ratios is replaced by the direct ratio between ${\displaystyle W_{battery}/W_{total}}$

${\displaystyle R=E^{*}{\frac {1}{g}}\eta _{total}{\frac {L}{D}}{\frac {W_{battery}}{W_{total}}}}$

where ${\displaystyle E^{*}}$ is the energy per mass of the battery (e.g. 150-200 Wh/kg for Li-ion batteries), ${\displaystyle \eta _{total}}$ the total efficiency (typically 0.7-0.8 for batteries, motor, gearbox and propeller), ${\displaystyle L/D}$ lift over drag (typically around 18), and the weight ratio ${\displaystyle {\frac {W_{battery}}{W_{total}}}}$ typically around 0.3.^[1]

Jet propulsion[]

The range of jet aircraft can be derived likewise. Now, quasi-steady level flight is assumed. The relationship ${\displaystyle D={\frac {C_{D}}{C_{L}}}W}$ is used. The thrust can now be written as:

${\displaystyle T=D={\frac {C_{D}}{C_{L}}}W}$ ; here W is a force in newtons

Jet engines are characterized by a thrust specific fuel consumption, so that rate of fuel flow is proportional to drag, rather than power.

${\displaystyle F=c_{T}T=c_{T}{\frac {C_{D}}{C_{L}}}W}$

Using the lift equation, ${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{2}}\rho V^{2}SC_{L}=W}$

where ${\displaystyle \rho }$ is the air density, and S the .

the specific range is found equal to:

${\displaystyle {\frac {V}{F}}={\frac {1}{c_{T}}}{\sqrt {{\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}^{2}}}{\frac {2}{\rho SW}}}}}$

Inserting this into (1) and assuming only ${\displaystyle W}$ is varying, the range (in kilometers) becomes:

${\displaystyle R={\frac {1}{c_{T}}}{\sqrt {{\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}^{2}}}{\frac {2}{g\rho S}}}}\int _{W_{2}}^{W_{1}}{\frac {1}{\sqrt {W}}}dW}$ ; here ${\displaystyle W}$ is again mass.

When cruising at a fixed height, a fixed angle of attack and a constant specific fuel consumption, the range becomes:

${\displaystyle R={\frac {2}{c_{T}}}{\sqrt {{\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}^{2}}}{\frac {2}{g\rho S}}}}\left({\sqrt {W_{1}}}-{\sqrt {W_{2}}}\right)}$

where the compressibility on the aerodynamic characteristics of the airplane are neglected as the flight speed reduces during the flight.

Cruise/climb (Breguet range equation)[]

For jet aircraft operating in the stratosphere (altitude approximately between 11 and 20 km), the speed of sound is approximately constant, hence flying at fixed angle of attack and constant Mach number requires the aircraft to climb (as weight decreases due to fuel burn), without changing the value of the local speed of sound. In this case:

${\displaystyle V=aM}$

where ${\displaystyle M}$ is the cruise Mach number and ${\displaystyle a}$ the speed of sound. W is the weight. The range equation reduces to:

${\displaystyle R={\frac {aM}{gc_{T}}}{\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}}}\int _{W_{2}}^{W_{1}}{\frac {dW}{W}}}$

where ${\displaystyle a={\sqrt {{\frac {7}{5}}R_{s}T}}}$ ; here ${\displaystyle R_{s}}$is the specific heat constant of air 287.16 ${\displaystyle {\frac {J}{kgK}}}$ (based on aviation standards) and ${\displaystyle \gamma =7/5=1.4}$ (derived from ${\displaystyle \gamma ={\frac {c_{p}}{c_{v}}}}$ and ${\displaystyle c_{p}=c_{v}+R_{s}}$). ${\displaystyle c_{p}}$ and ${\displaystyle c_{v}}$ are the specific heat capacities of air at a constant pressure and constant volume respectively.

Or ${\displaystyle R={\frac {aM}{gc_{T}}}{\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}}}ln{\frac {W_{1}}{W_{2}}}}$, also known as the Breguet range equation after the French aviation pioneer, Breguet.

Modified Breguet range equation[]

It is possible to improve the accuracy of the Breguet range equation by recognizing the limitations of the conventionally used relationships for fuel flow:

${\displaystyle F=c_{T}T=c_{T}{\frac {C_{D}}{C_{L}}}W}$

In the Breguet range equation, it is assumed that the thrust specific fuel consumption is constant as the aircraft weight decreases. This is generally not a good approximation because a significant portion (e.g. 5% to 10%) of the fuel flow does not produce thrust and is instead required for engine "accessories" such as hydraulic pumps, electrical generators, and bleed air powered cabin pressurization systems.

We can account for this by extending the assumed fuel flow formula in a simple way where an "adjusted" virtual aircraft gross weight ${\displaystyle {\widehat {W}}}$ is defined by adding a constant additional "accessory" weight ${\displaystyle W_{acc}}$.

${\displaystyle {\widehat {W}}=W+W_{acc}}$

${\displaystyle F={\widehat {c}}_{T}{\frac {C_{D}}{C_{L}}}{\widehat {W}}}$

Here, the thrust specific fuel consumption has been adjusted down and the virtual aircraft weight has been adjusted up to maintain the proper fuel flow while making the adjusted thrust specific fuel consumption truly constant (not a function of virtual weight).

Then, the modified Breguet range equation becomes

${\displaystyle R={\frac {aM}{g{\widehat {c}}_{T}}}{\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}}}ln{\frac {{\widehat {W}}_{1}}{{\widehat {W}}_{2}}}}$

The above equation combines the energy characteristics of the fuel with the efficiency of the jet engine. It is often useful to separate these terms. Doing so completes the nondimensionalization of the range equation into fundamental design disciplines of aeronautics.

${\displaystyle R=Z_{f}{\frac {aM}{Z_{f}g{\widehat {c}}_{T}}}{\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}}}ln{\frac {{\widehat {W}}_{1}}{{\widehat {W}}_{2}}}}$

where 
 
${\displaystyle Z_{f}}$ is the geopotential energy height of the fuel (km)
 
${\displaystyle {\frac {aM}{Z_{f}g{\widehat {c}}_{T}}}}$ is the overall propulsive efficiency (nondimensional) ${\displaystyle \eta _{eng}}$
 
${\displaystyle {\frac {C_{L}}{C_{D}}}}$ is the aerodynamic efficiency (nondimensional) ${\displaystyle \eta _{aero}}$
 
${\displaystyle ln{\frac {{\widehat {W}}_{1}}{{\widehat {W}}_{2}}}}$ is the structural efficiency (nondimensional) ${\displaystyle \eta _{struc}}$

giving the final form of the theoretical range equation (not including operational factors such as wind and routing)

${\displaystyle R=Z_{f}\eta _{eng}\eta _{aero}\eta _{struc}}$

The geopotential energy height of the fuel is an intensive property. A physical interpretation is the height that a quantity of fuel could lift itself in the Earth's gravity field (assumed constant) by converting its chemical energy into potential energy. ${\displaystyle Z_{f}}$ for kerosene jet fuel is 2,376 nautical miles (4,400 km) or 11% of the Earth's polar circumference. As an example, with an overall engine efficiency of 40%, a lift-to-drag ratio of 18:1, and a structural efficiency of 50%, the cruise range would be

${\displaystyle R=(2,376nmi)(40\%)(18)(50\%)=}$8,553.6 nautical miles (15,841.3 km)

Operational Considerations[]

The range equation may be further extended to consider operational factors by including an operational efficiency ("ops" for flight operations)

${\displaystyle R=Z_{f}\eta _{eng}\eta _{aero}\eta _{struc}\eta _{ops}}$

The operational efficiency ${\displaystyle \eta _{ops}}$ may be expressed as the product of individual operational efficiency terms. For example, average wind may be accounted for using the relationship between average GroundSpeed (GS), True AirSpeed (TAS, assumed constant), and average HeadWind (HW) component.

${\displaystyle \eta _{wind}={\frac {TAS-HW_{avg}}{TAS}}={\frac {GS_{avg}}{TAS}}}$

Routing efficiency may be defined as the great-circle distance divided by the actual route distance

${\displaystyle \eta _{route}={\frac {D_{GC}}{D_{actual}}}}$

Off-nominal temperatures may be accounted for with a temperature efficiency factor ${\displaystyle \eta _{temp}}$ (e.g. 99% at 10 deg C above International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) temperature)

All of the operational efficiency factors may be collected into a single term

${\displaystyle \eta _{ops}=\eta _{route}\eta _{wind}\eta _{temp}...}$

See also[]

• Flight length
• Flight distance record
• Endurance
• Specific energy
• Geopotential height
• Energy conversion efficiency
• Jet engine performance
• Lift-to-drag ratio
• Fuel fraction, Mass ratio
• Newton's laws of motion

References[]

• G. J. J. Ruijgrok. Elements of Airplane Performance. Delft University Press.^{[page needed]} ISBN 9789065622044.
• Prof. Z. S. Spakovszky. Thermodynamics and Propulsion, Chapter 13.3 Aircraft Range: the Breguet Range Equation MIT turbines, 2002
• Martinez, Isidoro. http://imartinez.etsiae.upm.es/~isidoro/bk3/c17/Aircraft%20propulsion.pdf#page29 Aircraft propulsion. Range and endurance: Breguet's equation page 25.
• Marchman, James, III. (2021). Aerodynamics and Aircraft Performance. Blacksburg: VA: University Libraries at Virginia Tech. CC BY 4.0.
• David W. Anderson & Scott Eberhardt. Understanding Flight, Second Edition 2010 McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-162697-2 (eBook) ISBN 9780071626965 (print)