Author Topic: winds in knots vs. miles per hour  (Read 28315 times)

Offline Chananya Freedman

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winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« 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?



Offline Fryy/Avocadoflight

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2010, 03:27:20 PM »

KHAOS

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2010, 06:00:06 PM »
1KT = 1.15MPH

Offline Hollis

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #3 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.

Offline sykocus

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #4 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)
« Last Edit: April 25, 2010, 09:20:47 PM by sykocus »

Offline Hollis

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #5 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.

Offline captray

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #6 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.

Offline sykocus

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #7 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

Offline captray

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2010, 05:47:13 PM »
the correct answer is Blue.
Sorry. :roll:

Offline Pilot3033

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #9 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...

Offline bphendri

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Re: winds in knots vs. miles per hour
« Reply #10 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.