Here is the route I got from router finder for kdtw to kbos. I selected use sid and stars. But I am confused why my first waypoint which is Jamestown is 188 miles away. Shouldn't there be more

Fixes between the airport to Jamestown? Thanks.

 

http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/autoroute_rtx.php

It would help if your link worked.

The first flight I pulled up off FlightAware had JHW as the first waypoint after the SID, so it seems reasonable enough.

 

Mike

Here's the sid that simroutes gave me. http://155.178.201.160/d-tpp/1407/00119MOONN.PDF.

 

Now looking at it, what's my altitude supposed to be at Jamestown?

You have told routefinder you are going to be using a SID (you ticked the SID box).

 

So routefinder has given you a flightplan that has the first waypoint as the end of your SID. That is the way it works.

 

Altitude at JHW ?   I would hope you would be at cruise FL by then. There is no altitude requirement for JHW (except a minimum of 4000 feet on the leg from BEWEL).

I see what your saying. I was a little confused when it said 4000 before Jamestown. Thanks guys! The pmdg is awesome just a tad bit of a learning curve but the payoff is sweet!

 

 

first waypoint which is Jamestown is 188 miles away

 

How did you come up with a 188 miles? You might want to refigure it.

Now how do I determin the speed? If Jamestown is my first waypoint do I just go 250 kts the whole way there?

You would climb to the altitude assigned by ATC, or odd altitude + 500 ft. if VFR. Speed wise, if you are flying in the US you would be at 250kts till you are thru 10,000 feet

Oh boy!. Gregdpw. You have to do a flightplan  and the first thing I suggest is understanding the MACH speeds. Once an airliner is near its Cruising altitude it will calculate its speed based on the percentage to the speed of sound. Or MACH.  For example most airlines will fly above 30000 FT and at a mach speed from .78 or .80 and anything in between. That is 78% of the speed of sound Or 80%. It is not measured by the airspeed in KTS because the air in higher altitudes is lighter so the true airspeed changes. 

 

 So to give you an example here is a route from BOS to DTW this morning

 

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU1837/history/20140703/2340Z/KBOS/KDTW

 

 That is a the real world route from Jetblue 1837

 

 The route is using is 

HYLND3 HYLND SYR J547 BUF SPICA2

 

Based on the aircraft type E190 I know that it will be flying at .78 Mach. True airspeed of 299 but an average ground speed of 430 KTS. 

 

 I suggest you google some articles and I think you should do some tutorials from Payware aircraft that will help you understand the logic a bit better.

 

Reach out if I can be of any help.

 

 

Based on the aircraft type E190 I know that it will be flying at .78 Mach. True airspeed of 299 but an average ground speed of 430 KTS.

Hmmm. That doesn't sound right. 299 true? It should be closer to 450. I see the link says 299, but that must be an average or something.

I'm sure he meant indicated airspeed.  True airspeed of 299 at FL300 would mean an IAS of about 188, which is very slow.

 

Using the most recent example from flightaware - which cruised at FL400 - 0.78 mach would result in a TAS of 447 kts, and a touch under 250 indicated (assuming a std atmosphere).

 

jeff h.