Aviation & Aeronautics
Intermediate

Glide Ratio

Distance traveled forward per unit of height lost.

Formula

GR=horizontal distancealtitude lostGR = \frac{\text{horizontal distance}}{\text{altitude lost}}

Variables

distanceForward
altitudeHeight lost

Example

Airliner ~17:1

Did You Know?

A modern airliner can glide roughly 17 km forward for every kilometre of altitude, even with both engines dead.

performance