1. What is Ground Speed?

Ground Speed (GS) is the horizontal speed of an aircraft relative to the ground. It combines the aircraft's True Airspeed (TAS) with the wind component (tailwind or headwind).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Ground Speed formula:

Where:

• \( GS \) — Ground Speed (knots)
• \( TAS \) — True Airspeed (knots)
• \( \text{wind component} \) — Wind speed component in direction of travel (knots)

Explanation: A positive wind component represents a tailwind (increasing GS), while a negative value represents a headwind (decreasing GS).

3. Importance of Ground Speed Calculation

Details: Ground Speed is crucial for flight planning, fuel calculations, and estimating time enroute. It directly affects the aircraft's performance and arrival time.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter TAS in knots and wind component in knots. The wind component should be positive for tailwind and negative for headwind. TAS must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between TAS and GS?
A: TAS is the aircraft's speed through the air, while GS is its speed relative to the ground, affected by wind.

Q2: How does wind affect ground speed?
A: Tailwind increases GS (positive wind component), headwind decreases GS (negative wind component).

Q3: Can ground speed be higher than true airspeed?
A: Yes, with a strong tailwind, GS can exceed TAS significantly.

Q4: What's a typical wind component value?
A: Jet stream winds can exceed 100 knots, but typical values are ±20-40 knots for commercial flights.

Q5: How is wind component calculated from wind speed and direction?
A: Wind component = wind speed × cos(wind angle - heading angle). This calculator uses the pre-calculated component.