The tabulation in figure 5 is consolidated from all available sources. The calculations apply to still-air conditions, and vary by any change in those conditions, no allowance being made for evasive action, navigation errors, headwinds, etc. A reduction of radius of action or range required would, for instance, permit a corresponding increase of load to be taken by the towing plane.

The gliding distance for the DFS-230 glider has been calculated on the ratio of 1 to 16 (or even more): that is, for every foot of height at launching, the glider can theoretically cover 16 feet measured horizontally. In the attack on Crete it is reported that gliders were released at an altitude of 5,000 feet. This altitude, under normal conditions and with the loaded DFS-230 glider, would permit a gliding range of about 8 to 10 miles. However, all estimates as to gliding ranges are very uncertain, and subject to revision.

Take-off   distance   (ft)   Initial  climb (ft   per min)   Total   range1   Mean speed with   glider (in mph)   and altitude   (in ft)  Ju-52—fuel, 530 gals plus 1-ton payload. 1 Glider DFS-230 -----  -----  850      100/5,000 Ju-52—fuel, 530 gals:                1 Glider DFS-230 1,110  -----  780      110/5,000        3 Gliders DFS-230 1,410  750  600      100/5,000 Ju-52—fuel, 1,060 gals:                1 Glider DFS-230 1,320  950  1,600      110/5,000        3 Gliders DFS-230 1,710  660  1,270      110/5,000 2 Ju-52—fuel, 1,060 gals each. 1 Glider Merseburg 2,700  350  1,000      110/ 3 Ju-52—fuel, 1,060 gals each. 1 Glider Go-242 2,610  340  990      110/5,000 1 Ju-52—fuel, 530 gals. 1 Glider Go-242 2,160  380  468      110/5,000 Me-109—fuel, 154 gals. 1 Glider DFS-230 2,760  900  500      140/10,000 Me-110—fuel, 280 gals. 1 Glider DFS-230 2,310  980  520      140/10,000 Me-110—fuel (auxiliary tanks), 530 gals. 1 Glider -----  -----  760      210/

1 Total range, the plane towing the glider all the way and not returning to base. A rough formula for   calculating the plane's radius of action is the following: Range/2 x .80=Radius of action.