Glossary
Aviation Geography
Knot (kt)
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://airportfyi.com/iframe/glossary/knot/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://airportfyi.com/glossary/knot/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://airportfyi.com/glossary/knot/)Use the native HTML custom element.
Definition
A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, used in aviation and maritime
Related Terms
Headwind
A wind blowing directly opposite to the direction of aircraft travel, reducing ground speed
Mach Number (M)
The ratio of the aircraft's speed to the speed of sound in the surrounding atmosphere
Nautical Mile (NM)
A unit of distance equal to one minute of latitude, approximately 1.852 km
Tailwind
A wind blowing in the same direction as the aircraft's travel, increasing ground speed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Knot (kt)?
A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, used in aviation and maritime
What does kt stand for?
kt stands for Knot (kt). A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, used in aviation and maritime
How does Knot (kt) relate to other aviation concepts?
Knot (kt) is closely related to Headwind and Mach Number, among other key aviation concepts.
More in Aviation Geography
Bearing
Continental Airspace
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
Flight Corridor
Great Circle Distance (GCD)
Hemisphere
International Date Line (IDL)
Kangaroo Route
Latitude
Longitude
Magnetic Variation
Nautical Mile (NM)
Oceanic Airspace
Polar Route
Statute Mile (SM)
Time Zone
Transatlantic Route
Transpacific Route
Tropic of Cancer