◈ Glider XC Planner

v3.2 · units configurable
Multi-leg routes · Obstacle clearance · Wind-adjusted glide · Worldwide airport search
Units

All inputs and outputs use the selected units. Internally calculations always run in NM and feet (the worksheet's reference units), so you can switch units at any time without losing your route.

Aircraft
Wind & Safety
5001,0001,5002,0002,500
Route — Waypoints no route
Round trip: requires altitude to safely return to departure throughout the flight (e.g. local soaring, racing tasks). One way: only requires reaching the destination — useful for retrieves, ferry flights, and competition finishes at a different field.
Alternates Along Route
Pick departure and destination airports first, then click Search to find landable alternates within the corridor.
Obstacles & Clearance Applies to obstacles, terrain, and waypoint clearance calculations
Wind-Adjusted Glide Calculations
Speed to fly
Vbest + wind / 2
— kts
Headwind adjusted glide
(STF − wind) / STF × L/DSTF × SF
— : 1
Tailwind adjusted glide
(Vbest + wind) / Vbest × L/Dbest × SF
— : 1
Safe return reach
NM from departure
Forward glide reach
NM from current pos.
Destination status
enter flight details above
Route distance: NM
Min alt at departure: ft
Max safe distance from dep.: NM
Flight Profile

Stay above both lines to keep the option of either continuing or returning at every point. Required altitude jumps at each waypoint and obstacle to maintain clearance. For round trips, the chart shows the full there-and-back profile, with the wind direction reversing on the return leg (separated by a dashed orange "TURN" marker).

Min alt to safely return to departure
Min alt to safely reach destination
Min alt to glide to intermediate WP
Current altitude
Glider (current position)
Obstacle
Endpoint airport
Main-route terrain (along planned path)
Diversion terrain (direct path to alternate)
Peak terrain in each 5-NM segment
Fill in glider, route waypoints, wind, and current altitude
to see the flight profile chart.
1 NM = 6,076 ft  ·  Obstacle clearance: 1,500 ft upwind · 500 ft downwind  ·  Pattern alt = field elev + safety alt  ·  Safety factor applied to both glide ratios
Route Map Click an alternate marker to add it to the route

Layers: Toggle base maps (including FAA Sectional charts at zoom 8–11 for US airspace) and the OpenAIP aviation overlay (airports, airspaces, navaids) using the layer control in the top-right corner of the map. FAA Terminal Area Charts are available as a separate overlay at zoom 11–13 for major metros.

Route overlays: The direct line from departure to destination is shown dashed (when intermediate waypoints exist). Altitude ticks appear every 5 NM along this line, labeled with the minimum altitude required at that point to reach destination — green if you have enough altitude to be there now, red if not. A go-ahead point marker shows where your current altitude becomes insufficient.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenTopoMap (CC-BY-SA) · Esri World Imagery · OpenAIP (CC BY-NC 4.0) · FAA Aeronautical Information Services

Headwind formulas (upwind)
STF = Vbest + wind / 2
HW glide = (STF − wind) / STF × L/D@STF × SF
Required alt at d (NM from constraint pos. p):
  alt(d) = constraint_alt + (p − d) × 6,076 / HW glide
Obstacle clearance upwind: 1,500 ft
Tailwind formulas (downwind)
TW glide = (Vbest + wind) / Vbest × L/Dbest × SF
Required alt at d (NM behind constraint at p):
  alt(d) = constraint_alt + (d − p) × 6,076 / TW glide
Obstacle clearance downwind: 500 ft
Pattern alt = field elev + safety alt