Russian Flat, Montana · field elev 6,336 ft
Density Altitude at Russian Flat (M42)
Russian Flat is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 6,336 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (77 °F) pushes density altitude to about 8,895 ft — the airplane performs like it is 2,559 ft above the field before the wheels roll.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.9 | 5,382 ft | 30.9 | 5,990 ft ▲ |
| February | 21.9 | 5,382 ft | 32.0 | 6,064 ft ▲ |
| March | 29.0 | 5,863 ft | 40.2 | 6,604 ft ▲ |
| April | 35.9 | 6,322 ft | 47.8 | 7,095 ft ▲ |
| May | 44.9 | 6,909 ft | 57.5 | 7,709 ft ▲ |
| June | 52.5 | 7,394 ft | 66.4 | 8,260 ft ⚠ |
| July | 60.1 | 7,871 ft | 76.9 | 8,895 ft ⚠ |
| August | 58.9 | 7,797 ft | 76.6 | 8,877 ft ⚠ |
| September | 50.3 | 7,255 ft | 66.1 | 8,242 ft ⚠ |
| October | 39.1 | 6,532 ft | 51.5 | 7,331 ft ▲ |
| November | 28.5 | 5,830 ft | 38.1 | 6,467 ft ▲ |
| December | 21.4 | 5,348 ft | 30.1 | 5,937 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 M42
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 6,336 ft — the air behaves like 8,901 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 6,338 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 Montana fields
- 7S6 — White Sulphur Springs
White Sulphur Springs · elev 5,065 ft
- S64 — Stanford/Biggerstaff Field
Stanford · elev 4,328 ft
- KHWQ — Wheatland County At Harlowton
Harlowton · elev 4,312 ft
- 5U0 — Denton
Denton · elev 3,594 ft
- 9U1 — Wilsall
Wilsall · elev 5,140 ft
- KLWT — Lewistown Municipal
Lewistown · elev 4,170 ft
- 8U8 — Townsend
Townsend · elev 3,897 ft
- 8U9 — Canyon Ferry
Townsend · elev 3,840 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at M42 in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 77 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Russian Flat reaches roughly 8,895 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 M42 on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 5,348 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 7,871 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 6,336 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Russian Flat?
6,336 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is M42 (FAA), in Russian Flat, Montana.