If the aircraft is at 8000 feet MSL, what is your maximum glide distance to high key position assuming the airfield is at sea level?

In a gliding scenario, the maximum glide distance correlates with the altitude of the aircraft and the angle of descent. When the aircraft is at 8,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), it is crucial to understand that the glide ratio is a key component in determining how far you can glide to a specific point, such as the high key position.

Typically, general glide ratios for a T-6B can be approximated at around 10 to 1 under normal conditions, meaning for every 1,000 feet of altitude lost, the aircraft can glide approximately 10 nautical miles horizontally. Therefore, starting from 8,000 feet, you can generally calculate the glide distance by multiplying the altitude (in thousands of feet) by the glide ratio.

In this case, with 8,000 feet of altitude and a glide ratio of 10 to 1, you will get about 8 (thousands of feet) multiplied by 10, resulting in a potential glide distance of about 80 nautical miles. However, since the airfield is at sea level, the practical maximum glide distance pertaining to flying conditions and safety margins results in a more realistic glide distance, which aligns closely with a maximum of approximately 10 nautical miles