Hello Arina,
It seems you're trying to determine the VHF communication range between two aircraft flying at the same altitude. In this case, it's best to apply the line of sight (LOS) formula. LOS takes into account the Earth's curvature, which can affect VHF signal propagation. The formula is:
D = 2 * sqrt(h/R)
Where:
D = Distance (in nautical miles)
h = Altitude (in feet)
R = Earth's radius (approximately 3,438.7 nautical miles)
However, since we have two aircraft at the same altitude, we need to calculate the LOS range for each aircraft individually and then add the two ranges together. Therefore, the modified formula would be:
D_total = 2 * (2 * sqrt(h/R))
Now, we can plug in the altitude value (3000 ft) for both aircraft:
D_total = 2 * (2 * sqrt(3000/3438.7))
This calculation yields approximately 2.34 nautical miles for the LOS range of each aircraft. The total combined range will be:
D_total = 2 * 2.34
Which gives us a combined VHF contact range of about 4.68 nautical miles. However, none of the provided options match this result, and it seems the marked answer (b) 134.19 NM is incorrect based on this calculation.
It's important to remember that VHF communication range depends on various factors such as transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, and antenna characteristics. Also, keep in mind that this calculation assumes ideal conditions without any obstructions or signal interference.
I hope this helps you with your RT test preparation. Good luck, and feel free to ask any more questions you might have![/code]