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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/sport-density-altitude

Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for what?

Nonstandard temperature.

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  1. Nonstandard temperature ✔
  2. Wind speed
  3. Magnetic variation

Why: Hot air is thinner, so an aircraft performs as if it were at a higher altitude. High density altitude hurts takeoff, climb and propeller performance.

Huh, didn't know that: High density altitude means thin air, while low density altitude means dense air.

The dad joke
What did the thermometer say to the other thermometer? You make my temperature rise.
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References

Answer: Nonstandard temperature. Hot air is thinner, so an aircraft performs as if it were at a higher altitude. High density altitude hurts takeoff, climb and propeller performance.

  1. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 11 www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/13_phak_ch11.pdf
    pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 4 www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/06_phak_ch4.pdf
    High density altitude refers to thin air
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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