Wind Star

[Keef]

I would if I had an HSI or an Autopilot. Mind you, I don't use a wind star either - which maybe I should, cruising at 150kph.

[Lottie]

I, with the suggestion from my instructor, made a wind star (or rose as we call it). He's in favour of doing as little as possible planning etc wise in the air and doing a much as possible on the ground. Its in Excel and you just type in the wind speed and direction and it does the rest - making a graphical depiction of the wind direction etc too. You just have to print it. I also added little tables to calculate cross/head winds from the wind given by the controllers when you come to land and then a further table which had speed on one axis, distance on another and then time in the middle. It means I can plan a diversion in about a minute with no maths at all and therefore considerably less hassle.

If you think it would help I am happy to send it over. I would say though that making it helped visualise what is happening.

Perhaps the forum should have a repository for stuff like this so that people cna improve on others / customise their own spreadsheets etc.

[Lottie]

Just had a look and the design-innovations ruler - looks pretty good actually and very similar to my spreadsheet except you have to pay for it and still put in the numbers.

[Keef]

Lottie: look at QSD's Excel Windstar (link on the previous page). It does the job well!

[KNT754G]

Used a windstar on my CPL test, the diversion leg was inch perfect thanks to that and an accurate wind forecast.

[AndyR]

Using the whizz wheel is the method taught to PPL, but post PPL I would imagine the iPhone App is a little easier for most.

And I would suggest using a GPS is easier again...

Which I actually think should be tested, but it is not for the moment, therefore the PPL (and the CPL) needs to use traditional methods.


(May I remind you Mr S that I have recently been flying an aircraft equipped with not one but two tv screens shock horror )

[Pete S]

I was taught by my instructor in the very early 90s to draw a windstar on my half mil in Chinagraph in the North Sea just off Ipswich.

I did it religiously (actually there were two 'stars') every year then I suddenly stopped drawing them.

I think it co-incided with the acquisition of my very first GPS a Garmin GPS 90: remember them?

Peter

[Paul_Sengupta]

Using the whizz wheel is the method taught to PPL, but post PPL I would imagine the iPhone App is a little easier for most.

And I would suggest using a GPS is easier again...

Which I actually think should be tested, but it is not for the moment, therefore the PPL (and the CPL) needs to use traditional methods.

Agreed. But one of us mentioned "post PPL"...

(May I remind you Mr S that I have recently been flying an aircraft equipped with not one but two tv screens shock horror )

But can you get the Quest channel on them? Eh? Eh? No, thought not! What use are those?! But seriously, how are you finding the transition to glass cockpit stuff?