How to Calculate Flight Distance
What is Flight Distance?
A flight distance calculator uses the Haversine formula to compute the great-circle distance between two geographic coordinates — the shortest surface path aircraft follow.
Formula
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Haversine formula uses lat/lon in radians
- 2Earth mean radius = 6,371 km
- 3Great-circle is shorter than flat-map distance on long routes
- 4Estimated flight time = Distance / 900 km/h (typical cruise)
Worked Examples
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flight Distance?
A flight distance calculator uses the Haversine formula to compute the great-circle distance between two geographic coordinates — the shortest surface path aircraft follow. Use this calculator for accurate, instant results.
How accurate is the Flight Distance calculator?
The calculator uses the standard published formula for flight distance. Results are accurate to the precision of the inputs you provide. For financial, medical, or legal decisions, always verify with a qualified professional.
What units does the Flight Distance calculator use?
This calculator works with inches, kilometres, kilometres per hour. You can enter values in the units shown — the calculator handles all conversions internally.
What formula does the Flight Distance calculator use?
The core formula is: Earth mean radius = 6,371 km. Each step in the calculation is shown so you can verify the result manually.
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