Range and radius, By moderator fiat...

Because no one seems to be following any sort of standard definition and because this is how I see the terms used on the official thingies, for your reading and future use pleasure:

Combat range The range you have from take off, combat with target (typically 2-10 minutes), and then continue on to another place. For instance, with the RS-70, take off from America, overfly Russia, drop a bomb, and then land in Iran or somewhere about there.


Combat radius How far away you can go, engage in combat, and then return back from whence you came.

Thanks actually. I was never certain about "Combat range"...radius always made sense to me...there and back...but "range" always fuck'd me up...like having enough fuel to make it to the site of the crash.

Range only made sense to me in terms of "Ferry range"...and then having a combat radius like 35-40% ofthe ferry range--I hope that makes sense.

I will use your definition...if I ever get back to trying to design anything.

I just noticed you didn't define 'ferry range', and because I've seen it given as a variety of things lately, I thought I'd add that, if it's ok with you:

Ferry range The range your aircraft can fly with NO weapons or ammo loaded, and with a full fuel load, including as many supplemental fuel tanks it can carry.