Virgin Australia MEL DRW VA1461
Virgin Australia · Live forecast
MEL → DRW
VA1461 · Mar 16, 2026 · 12:35 AED · boeing 737-8fe
89
Calm Score
"A smooth ride ahead — sit back and enjoy."
14h 5m
Duration
1,691 nm
Distance
40,000 ft
Cruise Altitude
HIGH
Confidence
Turbulence comfort along route
Comfort score combines turbulence probability with intensity — higher means rougher
Smooth Light Moderate Severe

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We know turbulence can feel scary — especially on long flights. This report is built for you: what bumps feel like, when they happen, and why you'll be completely safe. 1 in 3 passengers feel exactly like you.
AI-powered flight briefing
6,000 data points analyzed · HIGH confidence
Your Flight

We analysed more than 6,000 data points along your route from Melbourne Airport, Melbourne to Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin, Darwin.

Your Journey Beta

Your route takes you over the Great Dividing Range – conditions there can sometimes cause light turbulence.

Smooth Flight

We're expecting smooth conditions throughout your flight. You can sit back and relax.

Takeoff

Takeoff should feel smooth with possible light bumps, with calm conditions around the airport.

Winds Aloft

Winds at cruising altitude are about 44 knots. These winds may delay arrival by a few minutes.

Landing

Landing should feel smooth with possible light bumps with typical approach conditions.

You're in Safe Hands

If you feel nervous at any point, remember that turbulence is expected, safe, and part of normal flying. The crew is monitoring everything, and the aircraft is built to handle far more than anything you will feel. Have a safe and calm flight.

Relaxation Exercises
ZeroTurb Index (ZTI): Powered by our turbulence prediction algorithm combining atmospheric Richardson Number, wind shear analysis, temperature gradients, and geomagnetic activity. Learn more
Live data from ECMWF global forecast models · 12 atmospheric pressure levels · Updated every 6 hours
Flight Timeline 14h 05min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Light
0:30-1:00
Light
1:00-1:30
Light
1:30-1:59
Light
1:59-2:28
Light
2:28-2:57
Light
2:57-3:26
Light
3:26-3:55
Light
3:55-4:24
Light
4:24-4:53
Light
4:53-5:22
Light
5:22-5:51
Light
5:51-6:20
Light
6:20-6:49
Light
6:49-7:18
Smooth
7:18-7:47
Smooth
7:47-8:16
Smooth
8:16-8:45
Smooth
8:45-9:14
Smooth
9:14-9:43
Smooth
9:43-10:12
Smooth
10:12-10:41
Smooth
10:41-11:10
Smooth
11:10-11:39
Smooth
11:39-12:08
Smooth
12:08-12:37
Smooth
12:37-13:06
Light
13:06-13:35
Light
Landing
Light
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
Longer bars indicate higher turbulence intensity. Values shown are the maximum for each time segment.
Airport conditions
Live weather at departure and arrival
MEL Melbourne Airport — Departure
Wind
4 kt (310°)
Sky
Broken
Temperature
18°C
Conditions
VFR — Clear conditions, no delays expected
DRW Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin — Arrival
Wind
15 kt (300°)
Sky
Broken
Temperature
29°C
Conditions
VFR — Clear conditions, no delays expected
Your flight details
Departure timing and aircraft information
Evening Flight Departure
Time of day
Evening Flight
Tip
Evening and night flights typically offer smoother conditions as thermal activity subsides and the atmosphere stabilizes after sunset.
When
Today
boeing 737-8fe
Category
Narrow-Body Aircraft
Size
Medium
Comfort
Single-aisle mainline jets like this offer a comfortable ride. While you may feel turbulence more than on wide-body aircraft, they are engineered to handle it smoothly.
Data sources & our approach
ZeroTurb's Custom Algorithm: Our proprietary ZeroTurb Index (ZTI) combines three meteorological indices weighted by their predictive accuracy — giving you transparent, passenger-focused turbulence probability instead of vague categories.

This forecast integrates data from:

Disclaimer: This forecast is for informational purposes only. Always consult official aviation weather sources and follow ATC guidance.