Where's the wind from?
In cruise, our heading is 360, but the GPS shows our ground track is 021 and our ground speed (84 knots) is below our airspeed (102 knots). Which way is the wind coming from?
Pick an answer. You can try as many as you like.
Read the full explanation
A. Northwest
First we check the panel. The magnetic compass and the DG are roughly 360. The airspeed indicator says we're flying 102 knots IAS. Next, we scan the Garmin 430 and determine the ground speed is 84 and the ground track is roughly 020.
We're headed north, but tracking northeast. That means we're holding a left crab — the wind must be west of our track. We then compare the airspeed to the ground speed and see the ground speed is less — which means we have a headwind. Put this together, and the wind is from the northwest.
References
- Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 16: NavigationSee the Effect of Wind section, Figures 16-14 and 16-15.
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