Gladwin, Michigan · field elev 953 ft

Density Altitude at Sugar Springs Airpark (5M6)

Sugar Springs Airpark sits at 953 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (80 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,551 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,551 ft station: W BRANCH 3SE · 14 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at W BRANCH 3SE (14 mi from the field) · standard pressure, dry air
Month Avg temp °F DA at avg temp Afternoon high °F DA on a typical afternoon
January 18.9 −1,558 ft 27.4 −951 ft
February 20.3 −1,457 ft 30.4 −740 ft
March 29.9 −775 ft 40.9 −14 ft
April 42.0 61 ft 53.7 846 ft
May 54.6 905 ft 67.0 1,712 ft
June 64.2 1,532 ft 76.3 2,302 ft
July 68.3 1,795 ft 80.3 2,551 ft
August 66.5 1,680 ft 78.5 2,439 ft
September 58.9 1,188 ft 71.4 1,992 ft
October 46.9 392 ft 57.8 1,116 ft
November 35.3 −399 ft 43.6 169 ft
December 25.5 −1,086 ft 32.7 −580 ft

▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.

Run today’s numbers for 5M6

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,533 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,533 ft

Field elevation 953 ft — the air behaves like 2,533 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
954 ft
ISA DEVIATION
RULE-OF-THUMB DA
AIR DENSITY INDEX
AIR DENSITY
WATER · GRAINS/LB

For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at 5M6 in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 80 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Sugar Springs Airpark reaches roughly 2,551 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.

What is the density altitude at 5M6 on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,558 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,795 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 953 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Sugar Springs Airpark?

953 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is 5M6 (FAA), in Gladwin, Michigan.