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3 Answers

Wind speed calculation

Asked by: 9236 views ,
Aircraft Systems, General Aviation

Sir, I want to know wind speed calculation of aircraft. what is the sensor used and how it is calculated??   Regards   Sukesh sukesh.ap@gmail.com  

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3 Answers



  1. Paul Tocknell on Dec 20, 2011

    Sukesh,

    Most modern aircraft calculate wind speed and velocity using the aircraft’s FMS or GPS as well as traditional static and dyanmic air sources.  The computerized navigation system calculates the TAS of the aircraft using inputs from pitot tubes, static ports and other corrections to find the true air speed (TAS) of the aicraft.  Once the true airpseed is known, the GPS or FMS then inputs the speed across the ground (ground speed).   By knowing this differnence the wind velocity can be calcuated.    The wind direction can be calculated by knowing the aircraft’s desired track (DTK) and the aircraft’s heading which can be derived from digital instruments such as an AHRS (Attitude HEading Reference System) IRU/IRS or other gyroscopic driven inputs.

    Not much help, but that’s what I know! 

    Now, if I can only figure out how to make the voting system work on this site again!  (it’s broken)

    Paul

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  2. Matthew Waugh on Dec 23, 2011

    As Paul explains – wind speed and direction is derived – there is no “wind speed” sensor. If you know your track and speed across the ground, and you know your heading and TAS then the calculation is trivial (he said, having no clue how to do it).

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  3. Rengarajan on Apr 22, 2015

    Paul,

    Could you please provide more information about how does wind direction calculated.

    Considering the following scenario:
    Aircraft heading towards east and there is crosswind of 20 knots blowing from south
    Now to maintain my course i am conuteracting the crosswind with some crab angle and maintaining my aircraft heading to desired track.

    Here how does the crab angle and Wind direction calculated?

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