Philipsburg, Montana · field elev 5,219 ft
Density Altitude at Riddick Field (U05)
From a field elevation of 5,219 ft, a typical July afternoon at Riddick Field (81 °F) raises density altitude to about 7,774 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.4 | 4,232 ft | 35.7 | 4,928 ft |
| February | 26.2 | 4,287 ft | 37.5 | 5,047 ft ▲ |
| March | 33.8 | 4,801 ft | 46.6 | 5,644 ft ▲ |
| April | 39.9 | 5,206 ft | 53.8 | 6,107 ft ▲ |
| May | 48.1 | 5,741 ft | 63.3 | 6,706 ft ▲ |
| June | 55.2 | 6,196 ft | 70.9 | 7,175 ft ▲ |
| July | 62.1 | 6,631 ft | 80.8 | 7,774 ft ▲ |
| August | 61.2 | 6,574 ft | 80.8 | 7,774 ft ▲ |
| September | 53.4 | 6,081 ft | 71.2 | 7,193 ft ▲ |
| October | 42.6 | 5,383 ft | 57.1 | 6,316 ft ▲ |
| November | 31.8 | 4,666 ft | 43.1 | 5,416 ft ▲ |
| December | 24.3 | 4,157 ft | 34.3 | 4,834 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 U05
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 5,219 ft — the air behaves like 7,786 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,221 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
- M26 — Drummond
Drummond · elev 4,245 ft
- 3U3 — Bowman Field
Anaconda · elev 5,034 ft
- 38S — Deer Lodge-City-County
Deer Lodge · elev 4,693 ft
- RC0 — Rock Creek
Clinton · elev 3,547 ft
- 32S — Stevensville
Stevensville · elev 3,614 ft
- KHRF — Ravalli County
Hamilton · elev 3,636 ft
- 02T — Wise River
Wise River · elev 5,830 ft
- KBTM — Bert Mooney
Butte · elev 5,551 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at U05 in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 81 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Riddick Field reaches roughly 7,774 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 U05 on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 4,157 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 6,631 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,219 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Riddick Field?
5,219 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is U05 (FAA), in Philipsburg, Montana.