Vector Analysis and the Wind Triangle

It is clear that when the movement of the air mass is parallel to the flight path, simple

addition or subtraction of the wind can determine the speed over the ground. However, if

the movement of the air mass is at an angle to the flight path, as it usually is, vector

addition must be used to determine the movement over the ground.

VECTOR ANALYSIS AND THE WIND TRIANGLE

A vector possesses both direction and magnitude (or speed for our purpose). Vectors can

represent wind movement and aircraft movement through the air and over the ground.

Three vectors comprise the Wind Triangle or, as it is sometimes called, the Navigation

Triangle. The three vectors of the Wind Triangle are the:

AIR VECTOR -

the aircraft's direction and speed represented by True Heading

(TH) and True Airspeed (TAS).

GROUND VECTOR -

the aircraft's intended or actual flight path (True Course or

Track) and Groundspeed (GS).

WIND VECTOR -

the wind's Direction (DIR) and Velocity (VEL).

The AIR VECTOR (TH and TAS) is displayed as in Figure 4.5-5.

Figure 4.5-5

Adding the WIND VECTOR (Direction and Velocity) to the AIR Vector would look like figure

4.5-6.

4.6-112