At first look, aircraft range seems to be simple: It's merely the total distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing. In fact, many of us probably don't think too much about it beyond pre-flight planning to ensure that we have enough fuel to make it to the next fuel-or hamburger-stop with the appropriate reserves. Range matters to pilots of different planes in different ways. The range of a B-52 is clearly a different animal than that of a 152, and over the course of aviation history, designers and tinkerers alike have come up with ways to increase an aircraft's range while still being mindful of the weight penalties added fuel imposes but staying fully aware of the safety and utility advantages of flying that much farther down the road.
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