Wind Finding Techniques

[Jammed left]

Here is one that is more of a novelty....and if it is your only clue..you've probably missed soemthing

 

did you know that cattle/horses will stand *** to the wind it is strong enough.....very cliff claven... I know.

 

I'm a big fan of airspeed vs. ground speed and power required during the recce!

[Over-Talk]

I agree with Jammed on this......"I'm a big fan of airspeed vs. ground speed and power required during the recce!" (Comparing the GPS to airspeed guage is great, if available).

 

Also, some machines get 'twitchy' in the tail, or the tail starts to kick-up slightly when downwind. If the machine isn't feeling 'smooth', be suspicious.

 

Here's another idea,......if you can't tell where the wind is coming from, it is probably not strong enough to be the determining factor on where you make your approach from. Consider the other factors....sun,wires etc.

 

...if the wind is definitely there but so unpredictable that you haven't picked it by the third recce, get the heck outta there until another day.

W.C. Fields once said.."if at first you don't succeed, try again. If that doesn't work...give up, 'cos there's no point in making a fool of yourself".

 

If you MUST know where the smallest amount of wind is coming from to make your landing, either......

1) You have overloaded the ship for the conditions, (learn from this, then see note 2). )

2) Refuse the landing, until a proper wind indicator is in place, i.e. a heli-skiing flag, or surveyors flagging in a tree. (If the customer really wants a max-gross lift, he will have to pay for a lighter recce/flagging flight first).

 

If you need to do a max/gross takeoff with no wind indicator, look at where your downwash is going (over grass, through branches etc.). Downwash is VERY easily moved by wind.