Wind socks
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Wind socks
Hi all,
I was asked the other day what a fully erect windsock indicated. I suddenly realised that I had forgotten. And when I then tried to look it up (VFR flight guide, CAAP, CAR, CAO, AIP) I could not find any references. My seniors seemed to have forgotten as well.
Was I not looking in the correct place in these docs. or is it stipulated somewhere sneeky like MOS manuals? Or else not regulated (I consider this unlikely)?
Any help appreciated.
I was asked the other day what a fully erect windsock indicated. I suddenly realised that I had forgotten. And when I then tried to look it up (VFR flight guide, CAAP, CAR, CAO, AIP) I could not find any references. My seniors seemed to have forgotten as well.
Was I not looking in the correct place in these docs. or is it stipulated somewhere sneeky like MOS manuals? Or else not regulated (I consider this unlikely)?
Any help appreciated.
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what a fully erect windsock indicated
It means its windy of course!
I think it can vary from sock to sock, but I would say about 15kots is what gives a fully inflated sock its stature, ahhh erection
.So there is a guide, and when its defective who knows!
SQ
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Someone once told me if it's one of those striped socks, each orange or white segment indicates 5 kts. Could be a fable or outright BS though...
Seem to recall reading that a windsock indicates 15kt when fully aroused.
Seem to recall reading that a windsock indicates 15kt when fully aroused.
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From memory, a standard wind direction indicator for a registered aerodrome indicated 25 kts when horizontal. Had a quick search around and couldnt find a reference, sorry.
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Haven't looked but I think it used to be in AD.
Isn't it yellow wind sock full erect 15 knots, white wind sock full erect 30 knots
maybe if you looked up to buy one it would tell you i'll check sporties
Isn't it yellow wind sock full erect 15 knots, white wind sock full erect 30 knots
maybe if you looked up to buy one it would tell you i'll check sporties
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Yes, yes, yes. The temperature would have a big effect as well (or a small effect depending on how you look at it). And whether there were other windsocks around....
I was looking for some sensible answers too though. Thanks to the one of you who offered both.
I was looking for some sensible answers too though. Thanks to the one of you who offered both.
"I was asked the other day what a fully erect windsock indicated"
If its an older looking windsock .....
Its been popping little blue pills ?
Its been popping little blue pills ?
Last edited by ForkTailedDrKiller; 26th Jun 2007 at 08:05.
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I think FHead is correct, or close enough.
"Isn't it yellow wind sock full erect 15 knots, white wind sock full erect 30 knots"
- But be wary that not all wind-socks conform to this standard, particularly for an un-licenced field. Some fields tend to use non-standard socks as advertising these days.
"Isn't it yellow wind sock full erect 15 knots, white wind sock full erect 30 knots"
- But be wary that not all wind-socks conform to this standard, particularly for an un-licenced field. Some fields tend to use non-standard socks as advertising these days.
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I thought that a White wind sock was the primary wind indicator and the yellow ones were supposed to be used as secondary ones. The only difference is the colour
After checking up the ref for this is AIP AD 5.3
After checking up the ref for this is AIP AD 5.3
Last edited by scrambler; 26th Jun 2007 at 10:06. Reason: added ref to AIP
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White = primary Yellow = secondary
Back in the olden days (80's) they used to state in the VFG or ERSA that a horizontal sock indicated 30kts.
However by the late 80's changes appeared with the ERSA (I think) stating 20 or 25kts for an all out on some socks. So it appeared you could have 2 different rated socks around the country. At about the same time the govt. documents stopped stating the rating of the various socks.
This became known as the era of CYA (cover your arse) so after allowing a non standardised system to evolve the regulator went silent on the subject.
M
Back in the olden days (80's) they used to state in the VFG or ERSA that a horizontal sock indicated 30kts.
However by the late 80's changes appeared with the ERSA (I think) stating 20 or 25kts for an all out on some socks. So it appeared you could have 2 different rated socks around the country. At about the same time the govt. documents stopped stating the rating of the various socks.
This became known as the era of CYA (cover your arse) so after allowing a non standardised system to evolve the regulator went silent on the subject.
M
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I didn't find anything on wind sock speeds from a search through Australian publications.
I did find that the MOS specification in Australia is for a 3.75 meter white wind sock which matches the FAA Size 2 - Twelve feet (3.75 m) in length and 36 inches (0.9 m) in throat diameter.
according to the "FAA SPECIFICATION FOR WIND CONE ASSEMBLIES"
4.2.6 Windsock Extension. Test the windsock to assure that it extends fully when subjected to a wind of 15 (+2,-1) knots (+3.7, -1.8) km/hr or (+2.3, -1.2 mph).
http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraff...0_5345_27d.pdf
I also found out that ir's prohibited to export wind indicators to Libia. I couldn't find any phalic references though - some good ones allready posted.
I did find that the MOS specification in Australia is for a 3.75 meter white wind sock which matches the FAA Size 2 - Twelve feet (3.75 m) in length and 36 inches (0.9 m) in throat diameter.
according to the "FAA SPECIFICATION FOR WIND CONE ASSEMBLIES"
4.2.6 Windsock Extension. Test the windsock to assure that it extends fully when subjected to a wind of 15 (+2,-1) knots (+3.7, -1.8) km/hr or (+2.3, -1.2 mph).
http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraff...0_5345_27d.pdf
I also found out that ir's prohibited to export wind indicators to Libia. I couldn't find any phalic references though - some good ones allready posted.
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I was taught that a fully erect (err...horizontal?) wind-sock is 25kts...I don't have any references however....guess it might depend on a whole number of variables?
It's llegal to export wind-socks to Libya?? wtf?!
It's llegal to export wind-socks to Libya?? wtf?!