🛩ī¸ Lake Michigan Overflight Calculator

Coordinate your small aircraft crossing with ferry crossing schedules

📋 Quick Start Guide

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1
Aircraft Setup: Select your aircraft type or enter custom performance data. The calculator needs climb performance, cruise speed, and glide ratio.
2
Flight Parameters: Set your target altitude, departure point distance, and atmospheric conditions. Use the weather buttons to auto-populate current conditions.
3
Ferry Coordination & Route: Choose a ferry route for safety coordination, or select "No Ferry" for flexible timing. Drag the map markers to customize your exact crossing points (feet wet/dry locations).
4
Results & Visualization: Review the safety profile and glide envelope on the map. Hover over the altitude profile chart to see real-time aircraft position, ferry location, and safety status. Green = land within glide range, Yellow = ferry only, Red = neither.

📊 How the Calculations Work

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🛩ī¸ Flight Profile Analysis

The system calculates a minute-by-minute flight profile from start of climb through cruise. It determines when you'll reach max crossing altitude, go "feet wet" over the lake, and reach the opposite shore. Wind effects are integrated throughout, adjusting ground speed during climb and cruise phases.

🌊 Wind-Adjusted Glide Calculations

Traditional glide distance (altitude × glide ratio) is enhanced with vector wind analysis. The system calculates a wind-offset glide circle showing your actual reachable area during an engine failure, accounting for wind drift during the descent time to water level.

⛴ī¸ Real-time Ferry Coordination

Ferry positions are calculated using actual schedules, estimated harbor times, and crossing speeds. The system determines optimal aircraft takeoff/climb timing to maximize safety by minimizing time outside gliding distance of either land or an active ferry.

đŸŽ¯ Multi-objective Safety Optimization

The timing algorithm weighs multiple factors: land-safe time (highest priority), ferry-only time, and out of glide range periods. It finds the optimal timeing that minimizes risk while providing practical flight timing coordination.

Aircraft Performance

Use 50% to 70% of over-land best glide ratio to account for cool air effects over lake

Climb Rate vs Density Altitude

Flight Parameters

Current altimeter setting from airport closest to "feet wet" location
Current temperature from nearest airport closest to "feet wet" location
Wind speed in knots Direction wind is coming FROM (0° = North, 90° = East, 180° = South, 270° = West)
Orange marker = Feet Wet, Green marker = Feet Dry. Drag to reposition.
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⚠ī¸ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: All calculations and aircraft performance data on this page may be incorrect. Ferry locations are estimated based on published schedules but may be inaccurate due to delays, weather contitions, etc.. As pilot in command, you assume full responsibility for flight safety. Always verify all calculations using your aircraft's POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook) and current weather conditions before flight.