Tools
Density altitude calculator
Field elevation is what the map says. Density altitude is what the rotor feels. On a hot, high afternoon the two are thousands of feet apart, and only one of them decides whether you get airborne.
Density altitude
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- Pressure altitude
- —
- ISA temperature
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Enter all three values.
How the number is worked out
This is the standard approximation taught in flight training and built into every E6B. It is not the full barometric equation, and it does not account for humidity.
| Pressure altitude | field elevation + (29.92 − altimeter setting) × 1000 |
|---|---|
| ISA temperature | 15 − 2 × (pressure altitude ÷ 1000) °C |
| Density altitude | pressure altitude + 120 × (OAT − ISA temperature) |
Accurate to within a few tens of feet across normal light-aircraft conditions. It tells you what the air is worth; it does not tell you whether your aircraft will fly in it. That answer is in the performance charts in your flight manual, and nowhere else.
Disclaimer. This calculator gives rough estimates for planning only. Always confirm fuel, performance and weight figures against your aircraft's manufacturer documentation and its flight manual or pilot's operating handbook before you fly. Gyrocopters.com does not guarantee the accuracy of these figures and is not responsible for any errors or for decisions made from them. As pilot in command, you are responsible for the safety and legality of every flight.
