Windsocks

Flying Camp:Basic/Proficiency/advanced

CUO Tonya Brown Apr 11Adelaidebiplanes.com

Aims

• Learn the basic facts of windsock– You will have the ability to

understand and interpret windsocks when you are flying.

• Make your own model windsock

Mamalisa.com

Purpose of Windsock

• Help aviators know the direction and speed of the wind

• Now commonly seen as decoration

Gombergkites.com

What are Windsocks?

• Made out of fabric (cotton/nylon/synthetic material)

• Sewn around hollow circular frame

• Shaped so when wind blows through them they take form of a cone

Avlite.com

Function at Airports

• Travels freely around poles• Provides quick visual indicator to aviators and

control tower operators• Mounted near airport runways• Most have lights mounted on poles – to be

seen at night• Critical real-time information• Important piece for pilots landing or taking off

Visibilty• Designed to be highly visible• Normally brightly coloured• Stripes usually show indication of wind speed

(in terms of fractions of the sock)

Tdhvisions.com

Wind Direction

• Wind direction is opposite of the way windsock is pointing

• Windsock pointing ease indicates westerly wind

Restivo.org

How to interpret windsock

• Check to see whether wind is hard enough to cause windsock to orientate itself in the direction of wind blowing

• 3 knots usually speed to move• View direction that windsock is pointing (wind

direction opposite)• Look at angle – 15 knots usually will extend to

90 degrees

Windsock Extension

• 90 degrees 15 knots or greater (30)• 45 degrees 7-8 knots (13-15)

• 20 degrees 3-4 knots (6-7)• 60 degrees 10-11 knots (18-20)

Converting Knots & Km/h

• 1 knots = 1.852km/h• 1 km/h = 0.5399 knots

• 15 knots = 27.77998 km/h

• Z knots = 1.852 x Z (knots to km/h)• Y km/h = 0.5399 x Y (km/h to knots)

Colours of Windsocks

• Usually brightly coloured - visibility• Black and yellow - usually safety - evacuation

lanes, chemical storage• Orange and white - heliports, air traffic

situations• Only one windsock usually needed for airfield

Make a Model Windsock

Refer to Activity SheetAirforce.gov.au