A windsock (a wind cone or wind sleeve) is a conical textile tube that resembles a giant sock. It can be used as a basic indicator of wind speed and direction, or as decoration. Windsocks are typically used at airports to show the direction and strength of the wind to pilots, and at chemical plants where there is risk of gaseous leakage. They are also sometimes located alongside highways at windy locations.
At many airports, windsocks are externally or internally lit at night.[1]Wind direction is the direction in which the windsock is pointing. (Wind directions are conventionally specified as the compass point from which the wind originates, so a windsock pointing due north indicates a southerly wind.) Wind speed is indicated by the windsock's angle relative to the mounting pole—in low winds it droops; in high winds, it flies horizontally.
Wind direction is the direction in which the windsock is pointing. (Wind directions are conventionally specified as the compass point from which the wind originates, so a windsock pointing due north indicates a southerly wind.) Wind speed is indicated by the windsock's angle relative to the mounting pole—in low winds it droops; in high winds it flies horizontally.
Alternating stripes of high-visibility orange and white were initially used to help to estimate wind speed, with each stripe adding 3 knots (5.6km/h; 3.5mph) to the estimated speed. However, some circular frame mountings cause windsocks to be held open at one end, indicating a velocity of 3 knots even when stripes are not present. A fully extended windsock suggests a wind speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) or greater.[2]
Standardsedit
Per FAA standards, a properly functioning windsock orients itself to a breeze of at least 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) and fully extends in a wind of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[1]
Per Transport Canada standards, a 15-knot wind fully extends the windsock; a 10-knot (19 km/h; 12 mph) wind raises it to 5° below the horizontal; and a 6-knot (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) wind raises it to 30° below the horizontal.[3]
ICAO standards specify a truncated cone-shaped windsock at least 3.6 metres (12 ft) long and 0.9 metres (3 ft) in diameter at the large end. It should be readable from an altitude of 300 metres (980 ft) and ideally be of a single colour. If it is necessary to use two colours, they should ideally be orange and white, arranged in five alternating bands, with the first and last darker in tone. In wind speeds of 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) or more, they must indicate wind direction to within ±5°.[4]
Other related wind direction indicatorsedit
Other wind direction indicators include wind tees and wind tetrahedrons.
Wind tees and wind tetrahedrons are two other commonly used wind direction indicators in airports. Wind tees are shaped like an airplane so that they match with the heading of an aircraft ready to take off and land. Wind tetrahedrons always have their pointy ends pointing to the wind. Wind tees and tetrahedrons can swing freely and align themselves with the wind direction, but neither measures the wind speed, unlike a windsock. Since a wind tee or tetrahedron can also be manually set to align with the runway in use, a pilot should also look at the wind sock for wind information, if one is available.[5]
^ abACP 125(F), FAA Advisory Circular 150/5345-27D (PDF 447KB)(PDF), Federal Aviation Administration, 2 June 2004, retrieved 2017-01-07
^. Piggotts Flags And Branding. Archived from the original on 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
^Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM) - Aerodromes (AGA) §5.9 Wind Direction Indicators, Transport Canada, 25 March 2021, retrieved 2021-04-04
^Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation - Aerodromes, Volume 1 §5.1.1 Wind Direction Indicator, International Civil Aviation Organization, July 2013
^"Chapter 14: Airport Operations". Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C ed.). Federal Aviation Administration. 2023-07-17. p. 20. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
February 11, 2024
windsock, confused, with, winsock, windsock, wind, cone, wind, sleeve, conical, textile, tube, that, resembles, giant, sock, used, basic, indicator, wind, speed, direction, decoration, typically, used, airports, show, direction, strength, wind, pilots, chemica. Not to be confused with Winsock A windsock a wind cone or wind sleeve is a conical textile tube that resembles a giant sock It can be used as a basic indicator of wind speed and direction or as decoration Windsocks are typically used at airports to show the direction and strength of the wind to pilots and at chemical plants where there is risk of gaseous leakage They are also sometimes located alongside highways at windy locations WindsockWindsock in GermanyClassificationMeteorological instrumentUsesIndicates wind direction and estimates its speed RelatedAnemometer weather vane anemoscopeAt many airports windsocks are externally or internally lit at night 1 Wind direction is the direction in which the windsock is pointing Wind directions are conventionally specified as the compass point from which the wind originates so a windsock pointing due north indicates a southerly wind Wind speed is indicated by the windsock s angle relative to the mounting pole in low winds it droops in high winds it flies horizontally Contents 1 History 2 Standards 3 Other related wind direction indicators 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editWind direction is the direction in which the windsock is pointing Wind directions are conventionally specified as the compass point from which the wind originates so a windsock pointing due north indicates a southerly wind Wind speed is indicated by the windsock s angle relative to the mounting pole in low winds it droops in high winds it flies horizontally Alternating stripes of high visibility orange and white were initially used to help to estimate wind speed with each stripe adding 3 knots 5 6 km h 3 5 mph to the estimated speed However some circular frame mountings cause windsocks to be held open at one end indicating a velocity of 3 knots even when stripes are not present A fully extended windsock suggests a wind speed of 15 knots 28 km h 17 mph or greater 2 Standards editPer FAA standards a properly functioning windsock orients itself to a breeze of at least 3 knots 5 6 km h 3 5 mph and fully extends in a wind of 15 knots 28 km h 17 mph 1 Per Transport Canada standards a 15 knot wind fully extends the windsock a 10 knot 19 km h 12 mph wind raises it to 5 below the horizontal and a 6 knot 11 km h 6 9 mph wind raises it to 30 below the horizontal 3 ICAO standards specify a truncated cone shaped windsock at least 3 6 metres 12 ft long and 0 9 metres 3 ft in diameter at the large end It should be readable from an altitude of 300 metres 980 ft and ideally be of a single colour If it is necessary to use two colours they should ideally be orange and white arranged in five alternating bands with the first and last darker in tone In wind speeds of 3 knots 5 6 km h 3 5 mph or more they must indicate wind direction to within 5 4 Other related wind direction indicators edit nbsp Other wind direction indicators include wind tees and wind tetrahedrons Wind tees and wind tetrahedrons are two other commonly used wind direction indicators in airports Wind tees are shaped like an airplane so that they match with the heading of an aircraft ready to take off and land Wind tetrahedrons always have their pointy ends pointing to the wind Wind tees and tetrahedrons can swing freely and align themselves with the wind direction but neither measures the wind speed unlike a windsock Since a wind tee or tetrahedron can also be manually set to align with the runway in use a pilot should also look at the wind sock for wind information if one is available 5 See also editAir sock Anemoscope meteorological device for measuring wind direction Anemometer meteorological device for measuring wind speed Draco military standard military standard carried by the Roman cavalry Koinobori Japanese decorative carp shaped windsocks Traffic pattern indicator which may include a windsock at its centerReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Windsocks a b ACP 125 F FAA Advisory Circular 150 5345 27D PDF 447KB PDF Federal Aviation Administration 2 June 2004 retrieved 2017 01 07 Windsocks facts Piggotts Flags And Branding Archived from the original on 2017 03 01 Retrieved 2017 02 28 Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual TC AIM Aerodromes AGA 5 9 Wind Direction Indicators Transport Canada 25 March 2021 retrieved 2021 04 04 Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation Aerodromes Volume 1 5 1 1 Wind Direction Indicator International Civil Aviation Organization July 2013 Chapter 14 Airport Operations Pilot s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge FAA H 8083 25C ed Federal Aviation Administration 2023 07 17 p 20 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Windsock amp oldid 1195644013, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
