Glide Ratio Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: July 27, 2026How far an aircraft can travel without engine power
Glide ratio expresses how much forward distance an aircraft covers for every unit of altitude it gives up during an unpowered or idle-power descent - it is numerically identical to the aircraft's lift-to-drag ratio at that flight condition.
Worked example
For an aircraft that travels 10,000 meters forward while losing 1,000 meters of altitude:
Glide Ratio = 10000 / 1000 = 10.0:1
| Aircraft Type | Typical Glide Ratio |
|---|---|
| General aviation single-engine | 8:1 - 12:1 |
| Airliner (engines out) | 15:1 - 20:1 |
| Dedicated glider / sailplane | 40:1 - 70:1 |
Pilots use published glide ratio figures to estimate how far an aircraft can safely reach in an engine-out emergency, which is a core part of forced landing planning in flight training.