the Old Chestnut ,wind effect when circling
That Old Chestnut
I had it beaten out of of me when learning pattern B instrument flying on a Harvard "circling upwind or downwind has no effect on your airspeed as you are only flying/ circling with respect to the airmass"
I was convinced I had to keep adjusting power as I went round the 360 degrees maintaining an exact height
However we were also warned to be careful turning downwind near the ground for fear of stalling due to visual illusions of speed
In gliding, circling on the ridge, if one correctly maintains airspeed there seems to be a need to speed up/nose down turning downwind, and there is surge of lift as you turn back into the headwind .Though the detail effects are distorted by the changes of updraft and windspeeds near the hill .
Nevertheless there is a loss of height turning downwind, and a regain height as you turn into wind.
It is also interesting how the angle of bank changes as you fly elliptically over the ground while performing a supposed perfect circle in the airmass?
Swirlyflier