What is the max communications range of a heavy aircraft?

Question

Not talking about SATCOM, just UHF, VHF, HF, etc.

Answer 1

Large trans-oceanic aircraft use HF radios - they have a maximum range of about 1500 miles, maybe 2000 miles on a good day.

VHF is just line of sight - 100 miles at most from high altitude

Answer 2

I've had reliable communication to aircraft at or above FL250 at ranges of up to 250 nm in an enroute airways environment. A lot will depend on terrain and general radio 'noise'. UHF is nearer the 150 to 200nm range in same circumstances. HF has already been answered.

Answer 3

HF radio, if powerful enough, is quite capable of transmitting to any point on the globe. I have talked to Clark AFB in the Philippines from the cockpit of an F-111 while it was still in the hangar (doors open front and rear) in Ft. Worth, Texas. When airborne, the range was unlimited.

Answer 4

It depends on what altitude it's flying at, as an example the range would be 100 nm or 185 km if the aircraft is flying at 10,000 ft ( for VHF )

Answer 5

ah yes HF radio when I was a crew chief of a B-52 bomber I have picked up lots of different stations some was in I guess mexico and so on and I was in upstate NY. it was a life saver from the bordom of doing a refuel on a B-52. so its range is very wide. how wide I really dont know. I have picked up AF towers in texas and OK. to jsut name a few while on the ground.