Air acts a lot like water
Having trouble deciding which way the wind is blowing aloft? Forget for a minute that you’re in the air and instead look around and imagine you’re in a boat.
Air acts just like water (they are both fluids, after all), and will drift you accordingly. If the wind is strong enough you should easily see yourself track across the ground with the wind. Then keep that direction in mind and adopt it to any ground-reference maneuver or work in the pattern to make nice square turns.
AOPA Flight Training staff
AOPA Flight Training Staff editors are experienced pilots and flight instructors dedicated to supporting student pilots, pilots, and flight instructors in lifelong learning.
