What is the ground distance covered when cruising at 9,500 ft with a heading of 132 degrees from an airport elevated at 1,500 ft?

To determine the ground distance covered while cruising at a specific altitude and heading, we need to understand how altitude affects the air distance and then convert that to ground distance using the elevation of the airport and the cruising altitude.

When flying at 9,500 feet while the airport is at an elevation of 1,500 feet, the true altitude above the airport is 9,500 feet - 1,500 feet = 8,000 feet. The heading of 132 degrees indicates the direction of travel over the ground.

In general aviation, the relationship between altitude, horizontal distance, and ground distance can be calculated using the principles of trigonometry. When calculating ground distance, you consider both the altitude above ground level and any wind conditions which can affect the ground track.

When cruising at 8,000 feet above the airport elevation, the horizontal distance can be related to the altitude through the flight profile and other navigational factors, often involving using average groundspeed over time to determine distance covered effectively.

In this scenario, the distance of approximately 41 nautical miles would be calculated under standard performance assumptions for the aircraft type being studied. This distance accounts for the required parameter of cruising altitude, heading, and any standard conditions assumed for performance.

Thus