Skip to content

Glide Planning: Wind, Arrival Height and Terrain

Model glide arrival height with wind and compare supplied polar points against a complete terrain profile and required-height allowance.

Use this result well

Inputs that matter
Horizontal airspeed (m/s), Still-air sink at that speed (m/s), Headwind (+) / tailwind (−), m/s, Crosswind FROM right (+) / left (−), m/s, and 8 more
Output to expect
Glide to a specified destination, Compare polar points over a terrain profile
  • Check the units and required inputs before comparing results.
  • Keep the assumptions with a copied result so you can reproduce the calculation later.
Was this tool helpful?

Related Tools

Tools you might need next

Glide Ratio: Observed Segments and Polar Points

Calculate an observed descending ground-glide ratio or compare supplied still-air polar points, with explicit speed, sink and measurement bases.

Recommended next stepAviation
Wind Triangle: Heading and Forward Track

Solve the wind triangle for a desired ground track, showing heading and forward speed while identifying physically infeasible wind cases.

Recommended next stepAviation
Flight Time: Ground-Speed Legs and Route Totals

Calculate ground-distance travel time with unit conversion, or sum unequal-speed route legs and explicit circling, climb or delay allowances.

Aviation

Reference & details

How it works

Glide to a specified destination

Calculate time, arrival altitude and height reserve on one straight segment from specified speed/sink data, wind and a common elevation datum. The destination check says nothing about intervening terrain; use the profile mode to include it.

GS = √(horizontal airspeed² − crosswind²) − headwind; loss = (still-air sink + air-mass descent) × distance/GS.

Compare polar points over a terrain profile

Evaluate every supplied polar point against a complete piecewise-linear terrain and required-height profile on a straight route. Compare modeled arrival heights among points meeting that entered profile; unmodeled terrain, turns and weather remain outside the calculation.

Altitude at each profile knot = departure − net sink × distance / corrected GS. Piecewise-linear clearance has its minimum at a knot.

Updated: September 2026

Example Scenarios

Use the example to inspect the method and breakdown, then enter your own documented observations or equipment data.

→ 80 m modeled arrival reserve

Use the example to inspect the method and breakdown, then enter your own documented observations or equipment data.

→ 580 m MSL highest feasible modeled arrival

FAQ

Calculate time, arrival altitude and height reserve on one straight segment from specified speed/sink data, wind and a common elevation datum. The destination check says nothing about intervening terrain; use the profile mode to include it. Evaluate every supplied polar point against a complete piecewise-linear terrain and required-height profile on a straight route. Compare modeled arrival heights among points meeting that entered profile; unmodeled terrain, turns and weather remain outside the calculation.

Retain the measurement time and location, equipment or source document, units and assumptions. Examples illustrate the calculation and must be replaced with your own actual data before saving a personal case.

Use Save planning case for an explicit local history entry. Copy MD includes inputs and notes; Download CSV exports the result breakdown. Keep portable copies and save a separate case after changing the assumptions.

About Glide Planning: Wind, Arrival Height and Terrain

Calculate time, arrival altitude and height reserve on one straight segment from specified speed/sink data, wind and a common elevation datum. The destination check says nothing about intervening terrain; use the profile mode to include it. Evaluate every supplied polar point against a complete piecewise-linear terrain and required-height profile on a straight route. Compare modeled arrival heights among points meeting that entered profile; unmodeled terrain, turns and weather remain outside the calculation.