Airport wind cone, also known as a “windsock,” is a colorful tool at every airport that provides pilots with information that allows them to quickly and easily determine the approximate wind speed and direction before takeoff or landing.
The wind cones is a long cone with an opening facing the wind direction that indicates the direction of the wind. Inside the airfield wind cone is a metal tube (or mast) that leaves the larger end open to catch the wind and display the wind speed and direction.
When the wind speed reaches 3.5 miles per hour (about 3 knots), the cone will begin to move downwind, and only the front part will be displayed.
How The Airport Wind Cone Works
The working principle of the wind vane is mainly to use the power of the wind to indicate the wind direction and speed.
- The effect of wind:
When the wind blows through the wind cone, the wind enters the open part of the wind cone. The structural design of the airfield wind cones allows it to effectively capture and direct the wind flow.
- Indication function:
There is usually a long metal rod (or other supporting structure) inside the wind cone, which allows the wind cone to tilt or rotate under the power of the wind. Wind direction is indicated by the direction the windsock is pointing.
- Displaying wind speed:
Changes in wind speed affect the tilt of the windsock. Usually, when the wind reaches a certain threshold (such as 3.5 miles per hour or about 3 knots), the windsock will begin to clearly show its direction, and the strength of the wind speed can be judged by observing the movement of the windsock.
- Visualization:
Wind cones are usually brightly colored and designed to be easy to see from a distance so that pilots and ground personnel can clearly see the direction and strength of the wind.
- Wind cone color
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specifications, windsocks must not have markings or logos, but the colors can be:
- Orange
- Yellow
- White
- However, the best wind speed indicators have alternating colors, such as orange and white, or stripes at key points.
Wind Speed Estimation
- When the wind reaches three knots (3.5 miles per hour), the wind cone will move upwind. At this wind speed, only the first part of the windsocks will extend. If the windsock extends to the northeast, the wind is coming from the southwest or south-west.
- When the wind reaches six knots, the second section of the windsock extends; the third section at nine knots; and the fourth section at twelve knots.
- When the wind reaches 15 knots (17 mph) or higher, the windsock fully extends and points in the opposite direction of the wind source.
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