Wind almost never lines up perfectly with where you're pointed. Enter your heading (or a runway) and the wind, and this splits it into the headwind/tailwind you'll feel and the crosswind pushing you sideways — with a diagram so you can see it. A classic tested skill, and a real one for holding position in a breeze.
Tip: a runway "27" points 270°, "36" points 360°. For a drone, use the direction you're flying or holding into.
Take the angle between the wind and your heading. The part of the wind blowing straight at you is the headwind (or tailwind if it's behind you); the part pushing you sideways is the crosswind. It's just trigonometry:
| Component | Formula | Quick estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Headwind | wind speed × cos(angle) | Angle 0° = all headwind |
| Crosswind | wind speed × sin(angle) | Angle 90° = all crosswind |
Get the wind from real weather: METAR Decoder · Can I Fly Now?
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