Sunday, October 7, 2007

Windsock Info

We see windsocks at most club fields...but, does everyone know how to read one? Here's some info I've gathered:
  • Wind direction is the opposite of the direction in which the windsock is pointing (note that wind directions are conventionally specified as being the compass point from which the wind originates; so a windsock pointing due north indicates a southerly wind)
  • Windspeed is indicated by the windsock's angle relative to the mounting pole; in low winds, the windsock droops; in high winds it flies horizontally
  • Per FAA standards...a 15 knot (17mph) wind will fully extend the windsock; A 3 knot (3.5mph) breeze will cause the windsock to orient itself to the wind...i.e., 3.5mph of a breeze is what it takes to move the sock around the pole.

The knot: 1 nautical mile per hour = 1.852 kilometer per hour exactly. Other convertions:

    • 0.998383 geographical miles
    • 1.150779 miles (statute)
    • 2025.372 yards
    • 6076.1155 feet
    • 1 meridian arc minute at sea-level surface distance

No comments: