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Calcimator

VFR Flight Planner Calculator

Route planning with wind correction, groundspeed, time enroute, and fuel estimates.

Inputs

Results

Groundspeed (kts)

110

Flight time (min)

65.5

Headwind component (kts)0
Crosswind component (kts)15
Wind correction angle (deg)7.8
Heading to fly (deg)352.2
Enroute fuel (gal)9.3
Total fuel (gal)13.5
Fuel cost ($)$87.90
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter route distance (NM), true airspeed (kts), wind speed (kts), and wind direction (degrees).
  2. Set your true course (degrees) and fuel burn (GPH).
  3. Enter fuel reserve requirement (minutes) and current fuel price per gallon.
  4. Review groundspeed, flight time, head/crosswind components, wind correction angle, and required fuel.
  5. Use the wind correction angle to compute your magnetic heading before flight.

How the result changes with True airspeed (kts)

True airspeed (kts)Groundspeed (kts)Flight time (min)
6161118
21121134.1
39039018.5
54054013.3

What each input means

Distance (NM)
Leg distance in nautical miles.
True airspeed (kts)
True airspeed at planned cruise altitude.
Wind speed (kts)
Reported or forecasted wind speed.
Wind direction (degrees)
Direction wind is coming FROM (0-360).
True course (degrees)
Desired true course over the ground.
Fuel burn (GPH)
Expected cruise fuel consumption.
VFR reserve (min)
VFR day reserve is 30 min; VFR night is 45 min.
Fuel price ($/gal)
Cost per gallon for fuel cost estimate.

What each result means

Groundspeed (kts)
Estimated groundspeed after wind correction.
Flight time (min)
Estimated enroute time for the leg.
Headwind component (kts)
Positive = headwind, negative = tailwind.
Crosswind component (kts)
Perpendicular wind component for landing considerations.
Wind correction angle (deg)
Crab angle needed to maintain course.
Heading to fly (deg)
True course adjusted for wind correction.
Enroute fuel (gal)
Fuel burned for the enroute portion.
Total fuel (gal)
Enroute + reserve fuel.
Fuel cost ($)
Estimated fuel cost for the leg.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Distance (NM) = 120, True airspeed (kts) = 110, Wind speed (kts) = 15, Wind direction (degrees) = 270 = 8 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Groundspeed
    Groundspeed = max(1, tasKts - headwindComponent)
    110 = 110
  3. Calculate Flight time
    Flight time = flightTimeHrs * 60
    65.5 = 65.5
  4. Calculate Headwind component
    0 = 0
  5. Calculate Crosswind component
    15 = 15

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