Glide distance calculator
Glide ratio is horizontal distance per unit of height lost. Wind changes it substantially, and always for the worse into a headwind.
ft
kt
kt
Glide distance
5.70nm
- In still air
- 7.41 nm
- Distance in kilometres
- 10.55
- Effective glide ratio
- 6.92
- Sink rate
- 731 ft/min
- Time available
- 0:06:50
- Distance lost to the headwind
- 23.1 %
Show the working
- Height above the ground = 5000
- Glide ratio = 9
- Best glide speed = 65
- Headwind = 15
- In still air = 5000 * 9 / 6076.115485564304 = 7.406 05
- Sink rate = 9 > 0 ? 65 * 6076.115485564304 / 60 / 9 : 0 = 731.384
- glide_minutes = 731.384 > 0 ? 5000 / 731.384 : 0 = 6.836 35
- ground_speed = 65 - 15 = 50
- Glide distance = 6.836 35 * 50 / 60 = 5.696 96
- Effective glide ratio = 5000 > 0 ? 5.696 96 * 6076.115485564304 / 5000 : 0 = 6.923 08
- Distance lost to the headwind = 7.406 05 > 0 ? (1 - 5.696 96/7.406 05)*100 : 0 = 23.0769
- Time available = 6.836 35 * 60 = 410.181
- Distance in kilometres = 5.696 96 * 1.852 = 10.5508
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- glide distance = height x glide ratio
- sink rate = airspeed / glide ratio
Best glide speed is a specific number for the aircraft and weight. Flying faster or slower both reduce the distance.
The figure assumes still air apart from the wind component. Sinking air can halve it.
This is a planning and study tool. Use certified charts, an approved flight manual and official publications for anything operational.