If an airplane is consuming 14.8 gallons of fuel per hour at a cruising altitude of 7,500 feet and the groundspeed is 167 knots, how much fuel is required to travel 560 NM?

To determine the amount of fuel required to travel 560 nautical miles (NM) at a groundspeed of 167 knots, you need to calculate the duration of the flight first. The formula to calculate flight time is:

Flight Time (hours) = Distance (NM) / Groundspeed (knots)

Using the values given:

Flight Time = 560 NM / 167 knots ≈ 3.35 hours

Next, to find the total fuel consumption for this duration, apply the hourly fuel consumption rate:

Total Fuel Required (gallons) = Fuel consumption rate (gallons/hour) × Flight Time (hours)

Substituting the values:

Total Fuel Required = 14.8 gallons/hour × 3.35 hours ≈ 49.48 gallons

When rounding that number, it would typically be approximately 50 gallons. This justifies why the option indicating 50 gallons is considered the correct choice, as it closely matches the calculated fuel requirement for the trip. The reasoning behind the calculations reflects a straightforward application of basic flight planning principles, where understanding fuel consumption is crucial for efficient and safe flight operations.