Density Altitude
What is density altitude?
Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature—essentially the altitude the aircraft "feels" it's flying at in terms of air density. You find it by first reading pressure altitude (altimeter set to 29.92), then correcting for temperatures warmer or colder than standard. High density altitude means thinner air, which reduces engine power, lift, and propeller efficiency, hurting performance. Think of it as: hot, high, and humid days "raise" your density altitude and rob you of performance.
Also known as: DA
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