Endurance Calculator
Find out how long your aircraft can stay airborne from its usable fuel and fuel flow. Switch to reserve-adjusted mode to protect an FAA fuel reserve and see your safe flying time. Supports US gallons, Imperial gallons, liters, and pounds.
Advertisements are served by Google AdSense. Learn about our advertising practices.
Fuel flow must be in gal/hr to match US gal of fuel.
Why This Matters to Pilots
Endurance versus range: endurance is how long you can stay in the air; range is how far you can travel. A headwind reduces your range but does not change your endurance — you still burn the same fuel per hour, you just cover less ground. This distinction matters when you are holding, diverting, or waiting for weather to improve.
Fuel exhaustion is a leading cause of general aviation accidents. Knowing your endurance before departure is a fundamental preflight task, not an in-flight guess.
Fuel flow varies with altitude, power setting, and mixture. Use the fuel flow from your POH cruise performance tables for the planned altitude and power setting, not the maximum fuel flow.
Limitations
This calculator assumes constant fuel flow throughout the flight. Actual fuel flow varies during climb, cruise, and descent. Taxi fuel is not included — subtract taxi fuel from usable fuel before entering it here. Always verify fuel quantity visually before flight.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
This calculator is for educational and planning purposes only. Always refer to your aircraft's POH/AFM, current NOTAMs, and official weather briefings. No calculator is a substitute for pilot-in-command judgment or CFI guidance.
Last reviewed: July 2026
Want AI explanations, checkride questions, and saved calculations?
FlightCalculators.com is powered by the same team behind SkeyeMentor — the AI-powered FAA ground school. Try SkeyeMentor free.
Try SkeyeMentor Free