A knot (symbol: kn or kt) is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour (approximately 1.852 kilometers per hour or 1.15078 miles per hour). Knots are the standard unit of speed in iation and maritime nigation worldwide.
The formal definition of a knot is the speed at which one nautical mile is treled in one hour. The abbreviation "kts" (knots) is commonly used in iation, particularly for airspeed indicators and flight plans.
Why Do Pilots and Sailors Use Knots?Knots are preferred in iation and maritime contexts because they are directly tied to the nautical mile, which corresponds to one minute of arc of latitude on the Earth's surface. This makes nigation calculations simpler when working with charts and coordinates. All international iation and maritime communications use knots as the standard speed unit.
Common Aircraft Speeds in Knots Light aircraft cruise speed: 100-150 kts Turboprop aircraft cruise: 250-350 kts Commercial jet cruise (typical): 400-500 kts Boeing 737 cruise: ~450 kts (Mach 0.78) Boeing 777 cruise: ~490 kts (Mach 0.84) Airbus A320 cruise: ~447 kts (Mach 0.78) Aviation Speed Terminology IAS (Indicated Airspeed): The speed shown on the aircraft's airspeed indicator, measured in knots. TAS (True Airspeed): The actual speed of the aircraft relative to the air mass, corrected for altitude and temperature. GS (Ground Speed): The speed of the aircraft relative to the ground, affected by wind. Mach Number: Speed relative to the speed of sound, commonly used at high altitudes. Conversions to Other Units of Measurement: Kilometers per Hour (km/h): To convert knots to kilometers per hour, multiply the speed in knots by approximately 1.852. For example, 1 knot is equal to approximately 1.852 kilometers per hour. Miles per Hour (mph): To convert knots to miles per hour, multiply the speed in knots by approximately 1.15078. For example, 1 knot is equal to approximately 1.15078 miles per hour. Meters per Second (m/s): To convert knots to meters per second, multiply the speed in knots by approximately 0.514444. For example, 1 knot is equal to approximately 0.514444 meters per second. Feet per Second (ft/s): To convert knots to feet per second, multiply the speed in knots by approximately 1.68781. For example, 1 knot is equal to approximately 1.68781 feet per second. Beaufort Scale: The Beaufort scale is a measure of wind force based on observed sea conditions. It ranges from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane force). Knots are often used in conjunction with the Beaufort scale to estimate wind speeds.