If fuel consumption is 14.7 gallons per hour and groundspeed is 157 knots, how much fuel is required for an airplane to travel 612 NM?

To determine how much fuel is required for an airplane to travel 612 nautical miles (NM) given a fuel consumption rate of 14.7 gallons per hour and a groundspeed of 157 knots, you first need to calculate the flight time and then use that to find the total fuel needed for the trip.

1. Calculate the flight time:

The flight time in hours can be calculated by dividing the distance in nautical miles by the groundspeed in knots.

Flight time = Distance / Groundspeed

Flight time = 612 NM / 157 knots ≈ 3.89 hours

2. Calculate the total fuel consumption:

Once you have the flight time, multiply that by the fuel consumption rate to find the total fuel required.

Total fuel required = Fuel consumption rate * Flight time

Total fuel required = 14.7 gallons/hour * 3.89 hours ≈ 57.34 gallons

Rounding this value gives you about 58 gallons, which matches the correct answer. This calculation demonstrates the relationship between distance, groundspeed, and fuel usage, essential for flight planning and safety in aviation.