Endurance (aircraft)
Encyclopedia
In aviation
, Endurance is the maximum length of time that an aircraft can spend in cruising flight
. Endurance is sometimes erroneously equated with range
. The two concepts are distinctly different: range is a measure of distance flown while endurance is a measure of time spent in the air. For example, a typical sailplane exhibits high endurance characteristics but poor range characteristics.
Endurance can be written as:
where W stands for fuel weight, F for fuel flow, t for time.
Endurance can factor into aviation design in a number of ways. Some aircraft, such as the P-3 Orion
or U-2
spyplane, require high endurance characteristics as part of their mission profile (often referred to as loiter time (on target)). Endurance, like range, is also related to fuel efficiency; fuel efficient aircraft will tend to exhibit good endurance characteristics.
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
, Endurance is the maximum length of time that an aircraft can spend in cruising flight
Cruise (flight)
Cruise is the level portion of aircraft travel where flight is most fuel efficient. It occurs between ascent and descent phases and is usually the majority of a journey. Technically, cruising consists of heading changes only at a constant airspeed and altitude...
. Endurance is sometimes erroneously equated with range
Range (aircraft)
The maximal total range is the 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 two concepts are distinctly different: range is a measure of distance flown while endurance is a measure of time spent in the air. For example, a typical sailplane exhibits high endurance characteristics but poor range characteristics.
Endurance can be written as:
where W stands for fuel weight, F for fuel flow, t for time.
Endurance can factor into aviation design in a number of ways. Some aircraft, such as the P-3 Orion
P-3 Orion
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
or U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
spyplane, require high endurance characteristics as part of their mission profile (often referred to as loiter time (on target)). Endurance, like range, is also related to fuel efficiency; fuel efficient aircraft will tend to exhibit good endurance characteristics.