Wind Triangle Calculator

• θ = wind direction − track
• Drift = asin( (wind × sin θ) ÷ TAS )
• Heading = track + WCA; GS = TAS × cos(drift) − wind × cos θ

TAS 120 kt, track 090°, wind 130° at 25 kt.

1. 1.Wind angle θ = 130° − 090° = 40° (from ahead-right).
2. 2.Crosswind = 25 × sin(40°) ≈ 16 kt; drift = asin(16 ÷ 120) ≈ 7.7° left.
3. 3.Correct 7.7° into wind (to the right) → steer ≈ 098°.
4. 4.Headwind = 25 × cos(40°) ≈ 19 kt → GS ≈ 120·cos(7.7°) − 19 ≈ 100 kt.

Steer ≈ 098°, ground speed ≈ 100 kt, drift ≈ 7.7° left.

The wind triangle ties true airspeed, the wind, and the path over the ground together. Solving it gives the heading to steer (track plus wind-correction angle), the ground speed for your ETA and fuel, and the drift you'll see — the four numbers behind every navigation leg.

Maximum drift ≈ (crosswind ÷ TAS) × 60 in degrees. Always correct INTO the wind — a wind from the right needs a heading to the right of track.