My tailwheel instructor was big on checking the sock at each airport approach. I am wondering how you guys judge the wind during off airport landings.
It seems like I could learn something that would apply even at airport landings.
Thanks
My tailwheel instructor was big on checking the sock at each airport approach. I am wondering how you guys judge the wind during off airport landings.
It seems like I could learn something that would apply even at airport landings.
Thanks
A trick I use is to fly square to the place you intend to land. (90 deg off your runway heading) concentrate on drift. If the plane drifts to the left then the wind is coming from the right. Many backcountry strips are one way in and one way out no matter wich way the the wind blows.
Nick W
IV 1200
912Ul
Warp Taper Tip
Here in the desert SW we have lots of dust. I look for signs of dust being blown and a farmer out plowing a field gives a great visual. In areas with lakes, look at the shorelines for the most white water. The thing I'm interested in testing out and using now is my Dynon 100 has a wind direction arrow that is said to show up when the OAT, magnetometer, and GPS signals converge. Has anyone found this to work well? Is it accurate enough? I just set up the parameters and was curious.
Dan
Dan B
Mesa, AZ
Like Dan mentioned, look at the natural surroundings. Things like which way are trees, grass, clouds, cloud shadows, horses tails, (horses and cattle tend to stand with their butts into the wind) blowing? Notice land formations where air would flow over, up or down (remember air tends to flow uphill in the morning and downhill in the afternoon), etc. If your GPS shows ground speed, compare that to your Indicated Airspeed. Do you have to add left or right rudder or flaperons to hold a straight course due to wind? When you fly downwind, upwind, crosswind, base or final does the plane tend to float left, right, slow down or speed up? Our planes are light enough and respnsive enough that they will tell you a lot when you get familiar enough with yours to feel what it is doing while you fly.
Last edited by SkySteve; 04-15-2012 at 08:10 AM.
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Taper Tip Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel
SkySteve's SPOT Page
SkySteve's You Tube Videos
Dorsal ~~^~~
Series 7 - Tri-Gear
912 ULS Warp Drive
Dorsal,
Just think of the cool vertical landing you could do!
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Taper Tip Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel
SkySteve's SPOT Page
SkySteve's You Tube Videos
Dorsal ~~^~~
Series 7 - Tri-Gear
912 ULS Warp Drive
I don't know if I would trust cows and horses at least I wouldn't trust mine for wind direction. But most birds face into the wind.
Nick W
IV 1200
912Ul
Warp Taper Tip
My horses definitely put butts to wind , not a light breeze but 20-30 kt wind.
Kevin,
Kitfox Outback
912 ULS
Airmaster AP332CTFH-WWR70W
Summit Aircraft Wheel Skis
C-FOXW