I often fly and land at places where there is no measurement of wind speed and direction. I know that these can be calculated from airspeed and ground speed, but it's hard to do that while flying. It would be useful if iFlyEFB would do that - of course, you'd have to enter your current airspeed.
Estimating wind speed and direction
- Thread starter Vilis
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Perhaps a better way to estimate the wind speed at a given point/airport would be to look at all the surrounding airports and estimate the missing wind speed based on all the rest. Maybe iFlyEFB/AP could have the software do that, and note the estimated wind direction/speed/suggested runway just as it does for airports with reported wind.
Alas, in my area airports are not close together.
But, I've just learned that if a plane is travelling at a constant airspeed, then it is possible to calculate wind speed and direction using GPS, if the plane makes a turn (i.e. getting GPS ground speed and direction readings at >= 2 different headings). So, iFlyEFB could do this without having to enter any other info.
But, I've just learned that if a plane is travelling at a constant airspeed, then it is possible to calculate wind speed and direction using GPS, if the plane makes a turn (i.e. getting GPS ground speed and direction readings at >= 2 different headings). So, iFlyEFB could do this without having to enter any other info.
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I think this is the biggest downside to the OP's request. Winds at altitude can be substantially different from winds on the ground in both speed and direction.
If I'm landing somewhere without nearby weather, I use the old-school method to decide what to do: I look for a windsock, and/or smoke plumes, and/or wave motion on nearby water features, etc.