AviationBanter - View Single Post - Absolute lowest altitude you can fly (legally)

**Stefan** · January 6th 07, 11:17 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting,rec.aviation.student

schrieb:

Knots are not dimensionless in aviation. A knot is one nautical
mile per hour, and that nautical mile is the distance corresponding to
one minute of latitude at the equator.

Of course. And how often do you fly along the equator?

BTW, meters were defined the same: 10'000km equal one quarter of the
equator. Along with this definition came a system of decimal degrees,
one full cycle equal 400deg (i.e. one quarter of a cycle 100deg, which
corresponded to the meter definition). While the metric system was a
success, the decimal degrees system never made it, for better or for
worse. (Personally, I think for better. Basic calculations would be much
easier if evolution had created man with 6 fingers on each hand.)

Stefan