Glide Distance

[ossian]

If a Jumbo jet flying at 550 mph at 30,000 feet ran out of fuel how far, approximately, could it glide? SR

[grasscarp]

76.7 nautical miles

[paddywak]

Grassscarp, how do you arrive at such a precise figure?

[grasscarp]

I googled and found that someone had already calculated an answer for this question. I would have thought that a true answer will depend on wind conditions.
I cant see the exact reference I found last night but this one has a few answers
http://answers.yahoo....20080702142825AAZecpZ

[paddywak]

Thanks for the answer grasscarp,I just wandered if you were in the aviation industry. I was under the impression that Jet aircraft were very poor "Gliders" nice to know they are better then i thought

[grasscarp]

I am in the aviation industry, for the past 20 years plus in the flight planning area. I also hold a commercial pilots licence. This link gives a lot of information and links and quickly reading down it, also says from 30,000 ft - 75 nautical miles, so very close to what I already gave.
http://www.airliners....on/read.main/2499076/

[ossian]

Many Thanks Grasscarp. I was thinking of something like five to ten miles max. SR