Airspeed is defined as which of the following?

Airspeed is defined as which of the following?

• A. Ground Speed
• B. Velocity
• C. Airspeed
• D. Thrust

Answer: (C)

Airspeed is the speed of the airplane through the air mass it is flying in. It measures how fast you’re moving relative to the air, not relative to the ground. The airspeed indicator uses dynamic pressure from the pitot tube to determine this speed. Ground speed, by comparison, is how fast you’re moving over the ground, which wind can push or slow you relative to the air. Velocity includes direction, while airspeed is essentially the magnitude of the aircraft’s motion through the air. Thrust is a force produced by the engines, not a speed. For example, with 100 knots of airspeed and a 20-knot tailwind, your ground speed would be about 120 knots; with a headwind, it could drop to around 80 knots.

Airspeed is the speed of the airplane through the air mass it is flying in. It measures how fast you’re moving relative to the air, not relative to the ground. The airspeed indicator uses dynamic pressure from the pitot tube to determine this speed.

Ground speed, by comparison, is how fast you’re moving over the ground, which wind can push or slow you relative to the air. Velocity includes direction, while airspeed is essentially the magnitude of the aircraft’s motion through the air. Thrust is a force produced by the engines, not a speed.

For example, with 100 knots of airspeed and a 20-knot tailwind, your ground speed would be about 120 knots; with a headwind, it could drop to around 80 knots.