If an airplane is consuming 12.5 gallons of fuel per hour at a cruising altitude of 8,500 feet and the groundspeed is 145 knots, how much fuel is required to travel 435 NM?

To determine the fuel required to travel 435 nautical miles, we can start by calculating the flight time based on the groundspeed.

Given that the groundspeed is 145 knots, we can convert nautical miles to hours. Since there are 145 knots, the travel time for 435 nautical miles can be calculated as follows:

Time (in hours) = Distance (in nautical miles) ÷ Groundspeed (in knots)

Thus, the time to travel 435 nautical miles would be:

Time = 435 NM ÷ 145 knots = 3 hours.

Next, we need to calculate the total fuel consumption over this time. The airplane consumes fuel at a rate of 12.5 gallons per hour. Therefore, the total fuel required can be calculated by multiplying the fuel consumption rate by the time of flight:

Total Fuel Required = Fuel Consumption Rate × Time

This gives:

Total Fuel Required = 12.5 gallons/hour × 3 hours = 37.5 gallons.

When rounding to the nearest whole number, this results in approximately 38 gallons, which corresponds with the answer provided. This calculation clearly illustrates how the performance metrics of groundspeed and fuel consumption contribute to determining the total fuel requirements for a flight over a specified distance