There seem to have been a lot of very good responses to a pretty minimal input from jehan. Perhaps it is time to put the boot on the other foot.
Jehan, perhaps you would care to explain why you think weight, momentum, or aircraft shape should have any effect on drift angle.
Let us take darkroomsource's example.
Let us have two aircraft in a crosswind: same speed, same location but vertically separated, and with different weight and shape.
You propose that, because of momentum or shape, they require different drift angles. Let us suppose they make no wind corrections, so I take it they must drift, but drift at different rates? At any rate they cannot remain one above the other if they require different drift angles, and are not getting them?
So which of the following do you believe:
a) One of the two 100kt aircraft gains on the other, because of its momentum or shape.
b) One of the two aircraft on the same 000 heading flies more sideways than the other, because of its momentum or shape.
I am sure that any suggestions as to the physics behind all this will be heartily appreciated by all.
