Given a height above terrain of 7,500 ft and a headwind of 30 kts, what is the approximate glide distance?

• A. 8.5 miles
• B. 10 miles
• C. 11.5 miles
• D. 15 miles

Answer: (C)

To determine the glide distance based on a height above terrain of 7,500 feet and a headwind of 30 knots, we need to consider the general glide ratio of the aircraft and how wind conditions impact this calculation.

The typical glide ratio for many aircraft is about 10:1, meaning for every 1,000 feet of altitude, the aircraft can glide approximately 10,000 feet forward, or about 1.89 miles. At 7,500 feet, this would initially suggest a glide distance of 15 miles under still air conditions.

However, in the presence of a 30-knot headwind, the ground speed is affected. The headwind reduces the effective groundspeed of the aircraft during its glide. Essentially, while the aircraft can still maintain its glide ratio, the distance covered over the ground is decreased due to the opposing wind.

Calculating the glide distance in a headwind involves factoring in how this wind affects the total distance traveled. In this scenario, the roughly adjusted glide distance would lead to a result closer to 11.5 miles. This is a common outcome when assessing glide distances under certain wind conditions and may be influenced by specific aircraft performance characteristics as well.

Thus, the glide distance