Question

A Coast Guard plane has enough fuel to fly for 6hr, and it's speed in still air is 240 mph. The plane departs with 40 mph tailwind and returns to the same airport flying into the wind. How far can the plane travel under these conditions?

Answer 1

Assuming the distance is x miles.
Then
with tail wind, ground speed=240+40=280 mph
against wind, ground speed = 240-40=200

Total time
x/280 + x/240 = 6

Solve for x to get the maximum one-way distance.

Answer 2

129.23 mph ...