Fort Wayne, Indiana · field elev 836 ft

Density Altitude at Smith Field (KSMD)

Smith Field sits at 836 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (84 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,644 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,644 ft station: FT WAYNE INTL AP · 12 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at FT WAYNE INTL AP (12 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 25.5 −1,232 ft 32.6 −733 ft
February 28.7 −1,006 ft 36.5 −462 ft
March 38.6 −317 ft 47.8 308 ft
April 50.2 468 ft 60.9 1,174 ft
May 61.3 1,200 ft 72.2 1,900 ft
June 70.7 1,805 ft 81.0 2,452 ft
July 73.8 2,001 ft 84.1 2,644 ft
August 71.6 1,862 ft 82.0 2,514 ft
September 64.8 1,427 ft 76.1 2,146 ft
October 53.2 668 ft 63.7 1,356 ft
November 41.1 −146 ft 49.4 415 ft
December 30.9 −851 ft 37.5 −393 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 KSMD

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,638 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,638 ft

Field elevation 836 ft — the air behaves like 2,638 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
837 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 KSMD in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 84 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Smith Field reaches roughly 2,644 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 KSMD on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,232 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,001 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 836 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Smith Field?

836 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSMD (ICAO) / SMD (FAA), in Fort Wayne, Indiana.