In article , Mike W. wrote:

The R means Range and always has.

I still don't understand why the word 'range' is in there, a VOR doesn't
give you any distance to or from anything unless you use two or more of them
to determine your position. Why isn't it called a 'directional' or
'positional'? Is range just an old-timey word whose meaning has shifted over
the years?

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionar...=range&x=0&y=0

Dictionary definition 1c states: "a direction line".

Which is how the word 'range' is used in nautical terminology as I
understand it, and also in aviation.

That dictionary (Merriam-Webster) also mentions there are a total of 38
different meanings or definitions of the word 'range', so perhaps you
were thinking of a different meaning...?

-Dan