Originally Posted by MOR
Firstly, you cannot possibly fly a parallel inbound leg, as you have to re-intercept it; and secondly, the amount (ie distance from the still-air track) you would have flown upwind to end up back on the inbound, is the same distance that you will end up displaced out the other side of the hold if you attempt to fly a parallel outbound leg. Think about it.
Crayon drawings available for those who still don't get it...
Agreed on the second point. Disagree with the first point. It's a matter of semantics really, but if you fly through the inbound leg, then you initially fly a heading to intercept the parallel inbound leg. The inbound is still parallel, but you spend some time intercepting it. Obviously the hold is not nice and symmetrical, and the 3 x drift method is still a much nicer way of tackling the crosswind regardless of what the Aus AIP says.