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Endurance Of Flight Calculator

Work out endurance of flight instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Endurance Of Flight Calculator

Endurance is usable fuel divided by burn rate. What matters operationally is endurance after reserves: subtract the fuel you have committed to keep, and what remains is the flying time actually available for the trip.

Formula

Endurance

Gross endurance = usable fuel / burn per hour; usable = gross - reserve time

Worked example

With the default values below, Endurance Of Flight Calculator returns Usable endurance after reserve of 6m. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Usable fuel on board
320 L
Fuel burn per hour
48 per hour
Reserve to hold back
45 min

Results

Usable endurance after reserve
6m h
Gross endurance on all usable fuel
6.67 h
Fuel held as reserve
36.00
Usable endurance in minutes
355 min

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Endurance
  3. 3Usable endurance after reserve= 5.92 h
  4. 4Gross endurance on all usable fuel= 6.67 h
  5. 5Fuel held as reserve= 36.00
  6. 6Usable endurance in minutes= 355 min

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
  • Aviation results are planning estimates only. Always verify take-off, landing, fuel, weight and balance figures against the certified Aircraft Flight Manual, current performance charts and applicable aviation regulations before flight.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Aviation results are planning estimates only. Always verify take-off, landing, fuel, weight and balance figures against the certified Aircraft Flight Manual, current performance charts and applicable aviation regulations before flight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why usable rather than total fuel?

Some fuel in every tank cannot reach the engine in normal attitudes. The AFM states usable quantity, and that is the only figure to plan with.

Does endurance change with altitude?

Yes. Higher cruise usually lowers fuel flow, so endurance improves even though true airspeed rises.

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