Viscount724Posts: 19316Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:32 pm
Here"s a calculator which should answer your questions. Just plug in the altitude to obtain the approximate distance to the horizon. http://www.ringbell.co.uk/info/hdist.htm
B747forever
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 1): |
You are watching: How far can you see from a plane
BellerophonPosts: 535Joined: Thu May 09, 2002 10:12 am
Viscount742An interesting and useful little calculator - thanks for posting the reference - I"ve been playing around with it.Cruising at max altitude, on my latest aircraft type, the horizon is 28 minutes flying time away.Cruising at a much higher max altitude on a previous aircraft type, the horizon was only 14 minutes flying time away!

timzPosts: 6581Joined: Fri Sep 17, 1999 7:43 am
If you"re looking at Mt Shasta from FL 380 over the Central Valley it should be visible from at least 300 miles. Roughly, distance to the horizon from Mt Shasta, plus distance to the horizon from FL 380.
j0rdanPosts: 63Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:04 pm
Another formula you can use is: Distance seen in miles = 1.23 (X) square root of altitude in feet Jordan
When you are FL380 the horizon is 239NM away, but people on ground won"t see you when you are 239NM from their vertical. The maximum i have ever seen from ground is contrails from approx. 80NM.
Quoting Arniepie (Reply 8): |
Some useless knowledge: a quick rule of thumb for radio line-of-right calculations is to pretend the earth"s radius is 1.33 bigger than actual. Due to diffraction.
Quoting TS-IOR (Reply 7):When you are FL380 the horizon is 239NM away, but people on ground won"t see you when you are 239NM from their vertical. The maximum i have ever seen from ground is contrails from approx. 80NM. |
I recall a TWA transcon heading westbound one evening where the pilot came on and said the people on the left side of the plane could see the lights of St Louis while those on the right could see Chicago.
See more: Why Do Women Only Like Stupid Jerks Who Treat Them Like Shit ?
Top
nomadd22Posts: 1572Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:42 pm
RE: How Far Away Can One See From A Aircraft?
Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:21 pm
Diffraction will only add about 40 miles to the distance of the horizon. If you"re flying around Tibet, all things considered, you should be able to see Everest peeking over the horizon at close to 500 miles.
Top
Display posts from previous: All posts1 day7 days2 weeks1 month3 months6 months1 yearSort by AuthorPost timeSubjectAscendingDescendingGo
Post Reply
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: FlyingHonu001 and 10 guests
Popular Searches On hyakkendana-hashigozake.com
Top Photos of Last: 24 Hours • 48 Hours • 7 Days • 30 Days • 180 Days • 365 Days • All Time
Military Aircraft Every type from fighters to helicopters from air forces around the world
Classic hyakkendana-hashigozake.com Props and jets from the good old work
Flight Decks Views from inside the cockpit
Aircraft Cabins Passenger cabin shots showing seat arrangements as well as cargo aircraft interior
Cargo Aircraft Pictures of great freighter plane
Government Aircraft Aircraft flying government public representative
Helicopters Our large helicopter section. Both military and civil version
Blimps / Airships Everything from the Goodyear blimp to the Zeppelin
Night Photos Beautiful shots taken while the sun is below the horizon
Accidents Accident, incident and crash related photos
Air to Air Photos taken by airborne photographers of airborne aircraft
Special Paint Schemes Aircraft painted in beautiful and original liveries
Airport Overviews Airport overviews from the air or soil
Tails and Winglets Tail and Winglet closeups with beautiful airline logos