At 5,000 feet with 48 gallons of fuel at 75% BHP, what is the range of the aircraft?

To determine the range of the aircraft at 5,000 feet with 48 gallons of fuel at 75% brake horsepower (BHP), we can use a formula that takes into account fuel consumption, specific fuel consumption (SFC), and the power output.

First, it's important to understand that at 75% BHP, the aircraft typically has a specific fuel consumption value for the engine, often measured in pounds per horsepower per hour. Knowing the SFC allows you to calculate how long the aircraft can fly with the available fuel.

Next, you can convert the gallons of fuel into pounds because the range calculation usually requires fuel weight rather than volume. Assuming aviation fuel weighs approximately 6 pounds per gallon, with 48 gallons you would have around 288 pounds of fuel.

To calculate the endurance or flight time, you would then use the formula:

Endurance = Fuel Weight / (SFC * Power Output).

After obtaining the flight time, you can calculate the distance covered during that time by using the aircraft's true airspeed (TAS) at 75% BHP at the cruising altitude of 5,000 feet.

Multiplying the speed by the flight time gives the range:

Range = TAS * End