Fuel Burn Range Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: July 27, 2026The baseline every flight plan starts from
Still-air range assumes zero wind, giving flight planners a consistent baseline figure before adjusting for actual forecast winds aloft, which can meaningfully increase or decrease the practically achievable range for a specific flight.
Worked example
For 50 gallons of usable fuel, burning 10 gallons per hour, at 120 knots true airspeed:
Endurance = 50 / 10 = 5.0 hours
Range = 5.0 x 120 = 600.0 nm range (5.0 hours endurance)
This figure assumes zero wind - a significant headwind reduces actual achievable range below this calculated value, while a tailwind increases it, which is exactly why real flight planning always incorporates forecast winds aloft rather than relying on still-air range alone.