Wind triangle

The wind triangle is a navigational display methods in aviation, with the effect of wind can be determined graphically on course and speed of a vehicle. In shipping is determined analogously to the influence of currents on the course.

Instruments and tools used

Traditionally, the wind triangle is set up graphically. The known vectors are assigned proportionally into a drawing. The unknown variables can be removed then the graph. As an aid in order to avoid the time-consuming drawing, and mechanical navigation computer as the Aristo Aviat computer or the Slide Graphic Computer Jeppesen be used. In aircraft and on ships with an enhanced navigation equipment, the calculations are performed by the onboard computer. This purpose use, among other data of the inertial navigation system of ground stations and satellites.

Prerequisites for creating a wind triangle

A total of six values ​​determine the shape and location of the wind triangle. This can be both mathematically and graphically then release when four of the six values ​​are known. Thus, the two unknown values ​​can be determined.

Graphical method

The sides of a triangle are wind vectors. Vectors are directed sizes. They thus contain two pieces of information. The arrow describes the direction and length of the arrow is defined to scale the velocity. The sides of the wind triangle have the following name:

Construction of the wind triangle

Computational method for

Mathematically, the individual values ​​using the sine theorem, determine:

The corresponding cross wind component ( crosswind ) is given by: The associated Head-/Tailwindkomponente ( Gegen-/Rückenwind ) is given by: