Performance
Climb, descent, glide, turns, and range per gallon.
Climb gradient and vertical speed, top of descent, the visual descent point, glide range with wind, turn radius and load factor, pivotal altitude, and range per gallon. Pilots use these tools for departure climb requirements, descent planning, and emergency glide planning. Start with top of descent, which shows the 3-to-1 and 5 times groundspeed rules beside the exact values. Both rules start you down a little late and descend a little slowly, so on a long descent they leave you high.
Planning and education aid. Not for primary navigation. Full disclaimer
I want to know how far each gallon takes me
- Specific range
How far each gallon of fuel takes you, through the air and over the ground, and the fuel each 100 NM takes, from your airspeed and fuel flow.
I want to plan a climb gradient or vertical speed
- Climb gradient and vertical speed
Converts a climb or descent gradient (feet per nautical mile, percent, or degrees) to the vertical speed you need at a groundspeed, or the reverse.
I want to plan when to start down
- Top of descent
Where to start down: descent distance, vertical speed, and time for an altitude change on a descent angle or at a vertical speed, with the 3-to-1 and 5 × groundspeed rules beside them.
- Visual descent point
The visual descent point for a non-precision approach: the distance from the threshold where a normal descent from the MDA begins, with the HAT/300 rule and the descent rate at your groundspeed.
I want to know how far I can glide
- Glide range with wind
How far you can glide from a height with your aircraft's glide ratio, in still air and with a headwind or tailwind.
I want to work out a turn: radius, rate, bank, and load factor
- Turn performance and load factor
Bank angle, rate of turn, turn radius, load factor, and stall speed in the turn, from true airspeed and a bank angle or turn rate (standard rate by default).
- Pivotal altitude
The pivotal altitude for eights on pylons at your groundspeed, with the knots-squared over 11.3 rule.
Guides that use these tools
- IFR approach brief: The weather, the holding speed, the entry, the wind-corrected hold, and the visual descent point.