Rutherfordton, North Carolina · field elev 1,077 ft
Density Altitude at Rutherford County/Marchman Field (KFQD)
Rutherford County/Marchman Field sits at 1,077 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (89 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 3,232 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39.4 | 37 ft | 51.5 | 853 ft |
| February | 42.6 | 256 ft | 55.4 | 1,111 ft |
| March | 49.3 | 707 ft | 63.3 | 1,626 ft |
| April | 57.9 | 1,275 ft | 72.3 | 2,202 ft |
| May | 66.0 | 1,800 ft | 78.9 | 2,616 ft |
| June | 74.2 | 2,321 ft | 85.9 | 3,048 ft |
| July | 77.7 | 2,541 ft | 88.9 | 3,232 ft |
| August | 76.6 | 2,472 ft | 87.4 | 3,140 ft |
| September | 70.7 | 2,100 ft | 81.9 | 2,802 ft |
| October | 59.1 | 1,354 ft | 72.5 | 2,214 ft |
| November | 48.5 | 653 ft | 62.8 | 1,594 ft |
| December | 42.4 | 242 ft | 54.5 | 1,052 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 KFQD
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 1,077 ft — the air behaves like 3,238 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 1,078 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
Nearby North Carolina fields
- 9A9 — Shiflet Field
Marion · elev 1,212 ft
- KEHO — Shelby-Cleveland County Regional
Shelby · elev 847 ft
- 0A7 — Hendersonville
Hendersonville · elev 2,084 ft
- KMRN — Foothills Regional
Morganton · elev 1,270 ft
- KAVL — Asheville Regional
Asheville · elev 2,164 ft
- 7A8 — Avery County/Morrison Field
Spruce Pine · elev 2,745 ft
- E40 — Wilson'S
Hickory · elev 985 ft
- KHKY — Hickory Regional
Hickory · elev 1,190 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KFQD in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 89 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Rutherford County/Marchman Field reaches roughly 3,232 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 KFQD on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 37 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,541 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,077 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Rutherford County/Marchman Field?
1,077 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KFQD (ICAO) / FQD (FAA), in Rutherfordton, North Carolina.