2006-08-10 17:21:56 · 12 answers · asked by Fadhl 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Aircraft operate by moving through 'AIR'.
Airspeed is the speed that the airplane/craft is moving through that air.
An Aircraft tied to the ground with it's nose pointed into the wind, and the wind is blowing 35mph has a airspeed of 35mph.
An Aircraft flying at 2000 feet above the ground (AGL) into that same 35mph wind with a indicated airspeed of 80mph, will have a ground speed of 45mph (80-35=45).
However, that same aircraft turns around and flies with the wind, now has the same indicated airspeed of 80mph, but the ground speed is 115mph (80+35=115)
That is why aircraft take off and land into the wind, you have the highest airspeed and the slowest ground speed.
Yours: Grumpy
2006-08-10 17:27:00 · answer #1 · answered by Grumpy 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Grumpy explained Airspeed very well.
The above examples of Groundspeed are correct also. Another way to think about it is this: If an Airplane is going completly vertical, it could have an airspeed of 250 knots and zero groundspeed. It would have to be going straight up, any deviation would start a groundspeed. Going straight down would cause the same. Hope that helped.
2006-08-11 07:26:18 · answer #2 · answered by sc0tt.rm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The velocity of the air through which the aircraft is flying. If the wind is blowing from directly behind you at 20 mph, and your airspeed is 140 mph, your groundspeed will be 160 mph. Usually the wind has a sideways component, and the airplane's heading must be adjusted a bit to keep from being blown off course.
2006-08-12 03:47:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not totally sure, but i think groundspeed is how fast you are moving along the ground, and airspeed is how fast ur moving in the air... ie. an airplane may travel between 2 cities that are 60 mph away @ 60 mph groundspeed, but if the wind is blowing against the plane at 30 miles an hour, the plane is traveling at 90 mph windspeed.
2006-08-11 00:28:58 · answer #4 · answered by pish_01 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Air speed is the mileage as measured by the aircraft's speedometer. Groundspeed is the speed of the aircraft as measured from the ground. It takes into account differences in actual speed caused by headwinds or tailwinds.
Example: If you're flying in to severe headwinds, and your speed indicator says you are going 100 miles an hour, as measured on the ground, you may only be going 60 mph.
2006-08-11 00:28:33 · answer #5 · answered by all1g8r 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Airspeed is the speed relative to the air, which is moving, and groundspeed is relative to the ground, which is not (so wind is accounted for in the difference).
2006-08-11 00:27:35 · answer #6 · answered by comeagain 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Airspeed is the speed you are traveling through the air or you can think of it as the speed of the air passing over the aircraft, ground speed is the rate at witch you as passing over the ground. Ground speed is your true airspeed corrected for wind (headwind, tailwind)
2006-08-11 00:33:35 · answer #7 · answered by CRJPILOT 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Airspeed is the forward speed of an object relative to the air through which it is flying.
Groundspeed is the forward speed of an object moving over the ground.
More info can be found on Wikipedia...
Grpoundspeed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundspeed
True Airspeed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_airspeed
Indicated Airspeed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indicated_airspeed
2006-08-11 00:32:17 · answer #8 · answered by Trevor 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Airspeed is the speed of an aircraft relative to the air in which it is flying.
Groundspeed is the speed of an aircraft relative to the ground.
2006-08-11 00:30:11 · answer #9 · answered by Zeta 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If there is no wind there is no difference. but if so then:
Air speed + tailwind speed (from behind) = ground speed.
Air speed - headwind speed (from ahead) = ground speed.
this is a rough calculation because you also have to adjust for altitude but this is very complicated. Hope this is what you are looking for.
2006-08-11 00:31:16 · answer #10 · answered by wzzrd 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋