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Air Traffic Monitoring => Listener Forum => Topic started by: Chananya Freedman on April 25, 2010, 02:37:44 PM

Title: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: Chananya Freedman on April 25, 2010, 02:37:44 PM
Can somebody help me with how to make this conversion in general?
For example: Wind is coming from the east @ 13 knots.  What does that mean in mph?
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: Fryy/Avocadoflight on April 25, 2010, 03:27:20 PM
http://knotstomph.com/
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: KHAOS on April 25, 2010, 06:00:06 PM
1KT = 1.15MPH
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: Hollis on April 25, 2010, 06:12:39 PM
Technically, a knot is a measure of distance, called a nautical mile, rather than speed. When you hear wind or speed as x knots, it actually refers to knots per hour.
The mile is known as a statute mile.
e.g., if you're flying at a speed of 100 knots, it's really 100 knots per hour, or about 115 miles per hour.
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: sykocus on April 25, 2010, 09:16:53 PM
Technically, a knot is a measure of distance, called a nautical mile, rather than speed. When you hear wind or speed as x knots, it actually refers to knots per hour.
The mile is known as a statute mile.
e.g., if you're flying at a speed of 100 knots, it's really 100 knots per hour, or about 115 miles per hour.

Technically speaking a knot is a measure of speed (in addition to being something you tie in a piece of rope or string).  In the olden days of sailing they would throw a weighted wooden paddle over the side of the ship. It was attached to a rope with knots tied in it at regular intervals. One person would hold the rope and count how many knots passed though his hand, in a set amount of time. That was how they determined their speed. You are correct that the modern knot is equal to a nautical mile per hour. While they both sound like they come from the same word, a knot refers to speed. In aviation you refer to distance in nautical miles (or just miles)
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: Hollis on April 25, 2010, 09:36:48 PM
I stand corrected. I got my knots and 'nauts' mixed up.
My post was all for naught, not that I was trying to be naughty.
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: captray on April 26, 2010, 07:04:12 AM
Ok try this then.

You are flying in the jet stream. You have a 100 knot per hour tail wind. You do a 180 degree turn. How much ground speed did you just loose? If all the parameters stay the same.
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: sykocus on April 26, 2010, 11:05:58 AM
Ok try this then.

You are flying in the jet stream. You have a 100 knot per hour tail wind. You do a 180 degree turn. How much ground speed did you just loose? If all the parameters stay the same.

2 bolens and 5 grannies
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: captray on April 26, 2010, 05:47:13 PM
the correct answer is Blue.
Sorry. :roll:
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: Pilot3033 on April 28, 2010, 11:38:36 AM
Ok try this then.

You are flying in the jet stream. You have a 100 knot per hour tail wind. You do a 180 degree turn. How much ground speed did you just loose? If all the parameters stay the same.
200kts.
the correct answer is Blue.
Sorry. :roll:
dam...
Title: Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
Post by: bphendri on May 01, 2010, 02:30:52 PM
It is also still used for maritime and aviation navigation because on a mercator projection chart, 1 nautical mile, is roughly equal to 1 minute of latitude.  So it is easy to plot distances using dividers.