Distance estimation during VFR flight

[frtrkap]

Hi,

Are there any tricks to estimating a distance to a city/airport/landmark visually, other than looking at a map? I remember my old CFI telling me that the airport was at about 3NM, at my wingtip (PA-28), at 3000', so it gives me some idea, but any other tips?

Thanks

 

[PeterNSteinmetz]

Nice article about how to judge angle and thus corresponding distances while in the air. This is a critical question for glider pilots planning landings!

http://www.soargbsc.com/inststud/student/HowFarCanYouSpit.pdf