Range

Range is the distance an aircraft can fly on its usable fuel, usually quoted under specific assumptions — number of passengers, cruise speed, reserves and still air. Real-world range is almost always less than the brochure figure once you account for headwinds, a full cabin, air-traffic routing and required fuel reserves, which is why like-for-like comparison matters.

Why it matters: published maximum range is achieved under favourable assumptions — light payload, ideal cruise, still air, minimal reserves. Real dispatchable range with your passenger load, realistic winds and proper fuel reserves is always shorter, sometimes dramatically so.

The practical test is whether the aircraft flies your longest regular sector, in winter winds, with the load you actually carry, and lands with responsible reserves. If the mission only works using the brochure number, the aircraft is too small for the mission — buyers who ignore this end up with a fuel stop on the route they bought the aircraft to fly nonstop.