Nautical Mile (NM) is a unit of distance used in aviation and maritime navigation. It is based on the Earth’s geometry: 1 NM equals one minute of latitude (1/60 of a degree), which makes it convenient for chart work and navigation.
Conversions:
- 1 NM = 1,852 meters
- 1 NM = 1.852 kilometers
- 1 NM ≈ 1.1508 statute miles
Why aviation uses NM:
- Positions and routes are tied to latitude/longitude, so NM fits naturally with maps and navigation.
- Speed in aviation is usually in knots, which are defined as nautical miles per hour.
Application in DCS World
- Distances on the F10 map, waypoint spacing, and many mission briefings are commonly expressed in NM.
- When you see speeds in KTS/KT, you can mentally pair them with NM:
- Time (hours) ≈ Distance (NM) ÷ Speed (KT)