Challis, Idaho · field elev 5,500 ft
Density Altitude at Upper Loon Creek Usfs (U72)
Upper Loon Creek Usfs is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,500 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (86 °F) pushes density altitude to about 8,405 ft — the airplane performs like it is 2,905 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 | 25.0 | 4,555 ft | 34.1 | 5,169 ft ▲ |
| February | 29.2 | 4,840 ft | 40.4 | 5,586 ft ▲ |
| March | 37.4 | 5,388 ft | 49.8 | 6,196 ft ▲ |
| April | 44.0 | 5,821 ft | 57.3 | 6,673 ft ▲ |
| May | 52.4 | 6,363 ft | 66.6 | 7,253 ft ▲ |
| June | 59.5 | 6,812 ft | 75.0 | 7,766 ft ▲ |
| July | 67.1 | 7,284 ft | 85.7 | 8,405 ft ⚠ |
| August | 65.6 | 7,192 ft | 85.0 | 8,364 ft ⚠ |
| September | 57.5 | 6,686 ft | 75.9 | 7,821 ft ▲ |
| October | 45.8 | 5,938 ft | 60.7 | 6,887 ft ▲ |
| November | 33.1 | 5,102 ft | 43.0 | 5,756 ft ▲ |
| December | 24.2 | 4,500 ft | 33.3 | 5,115 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 U72
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 5,500 ft — the air behaves like 8,423 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,502 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 Idaho fields
- D47 — Cougar Ranch
Challis · elev 4,277 ft
- 0U3 — Mahoney Creek Usfs
Mahoney Creek · elev 4,618 ft
- 2U8 — Thomas Creek
Stanley · elev 4,415 ft
- ID8 — Marble Creek
Challis · elev 4,685 ft
- C53 — Lower Loon Creek
Challis · elev 4,200 ft
- S81 — Indian Creek Usfs
Indian Creek · elev 4,718 ft
- 2U7 — Stanley
Stanley · elev 6,403 ft
- U54 — Bernard Usfs
Bernard · elev 3,626 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at U72 in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 86 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Upper Loon Creek Usfs reaches roughly 8,405 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 U72 on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 4,500 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 7,284 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,500 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Upper Loon Creek Usfs?
5,500 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is U72 (FAA), in Challis, Idaho.