Manufacturer ranges use different conditions: some already include a reserve and others do not. Select percentage deductions to explore sensitivity to fuel, wind and payload assumptions. These are hypothetical inputs, not an aircraft-specific fuel model or proof that a route is possible.
How this calculator works
Screened distance = published range × (1 − (reserve % + wind % + payload %) / 100). The return-distance illustration halves that result; neither output calculates fuel or legal reserve.
Worked example
For an illustrative 1,000 nm published range, deductions of 20%, 8% and 5% give a 670 nm distance screen; halving it gives 335 nm. These are arithmetic scenarios, not a verified one-way trip or out-and-back fuel plan.
Published range against an illustrative distance screen
Each row applies the calculator's default deductions to a model's published range: 20 percent labelled reserve, 8 percent wind and 5 percent payload. These chosen percentages do not calculate fuel or legal reserve. The half-distance column is arithmetic, not a verified return-trip radius.
| Aircraft | Published range | Screened distance | Half-distance | Time at published cruise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, single-engine piston | 500 nm | 335 nm | 167 nm | 1.6 h |
| Diamond DA42-VI, twin-engine piston | 1,225 nm | 821 nm | 410 nm | 2.3 h |
| Daher Kodiak 100 Series III, single-engine turboprop | 1,132 nm | 758 nm | 379 nm | 2.1 h |
| Beechcraft King Air 300, twin-engine turboprop | 1,560 nm | 1,045 nm | 523 nm | 1.6 h |
| Cessna Citation CJ1, light jet | 1,300 nm | 871 nm | 435 nm | 1.1 h |
| Robinson R44 Raven I, helicopter | 300 nm | 201 nm | 100 nm | 0.9 h |
What the table holds fixed
- Published ranges have model-specific test conditions; some already include a reserve. Read each source before applying the same percentage deduction across aircraft.
- The same 33 percent total reduction applies to every row, which is why the radius lands at about a third of the published range whatever the aircraft. The ranking is the published one.
- The time column divides the half-distance illustration by published cruise speed; range and cruise figures may use different power and altitude settings. This is not flight time.
Frequently asked questions
Why might trip range differ from published range?
Published figures can use different power, altitude, loading, wind and reserve assumptions. Actual routing, weather and usable fuel depend on the specific aircraft and flight. Check the source conditions before applying a percentage; the result is only a comparison screen.
What reserve should I plan with?
The default 20% is an illustrative deduction, not a legal minimum or a calculation of reserve fuel. Some published range figures already include a reserve. Determine the applicable requirements and calculate fuel in time and quantity using the aircraft flight manual and the actual route and conditions.
What is an out-and-back radius?
This page halves the screened distance as a geometric illustration. A real out-and-back flight needs separate outbound and return fuel calculations; winds, routing, loading and reserve requirements may differ on each leg.