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Propeller Range (Breguet)

Breguet range for a propeller aircraft: range grows with propeller efficiency, lift-to-drag ratio and the fuel-weight fraction.

Formula

R=ηc LDln⁡W0W1R = \dfrac{\eta}{c}\,\dfrac{L}{D}\ln\dfrac{W_0}{W_1}

Variables

RRange
\etaPropeller efficiency
cSpecific fuel consumption
L/DLift-to-drag ratio
W_0/W_1Start/end weight ratio

Example

η=0.8, high L/D and fuel fraction extend range substantially

Did You Know?

For propeller aircraft, best range is flown at the speed for maximum L/D — unlike jets, which fly faster.

rangepropellerbreguetperformance

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