Headwinds, always

Peter Duniho wrote:
"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...

It is easy to show that mathematically, a 90 degree crosswind results in
no tailwind component. Without a correction, it results in no headwind
component as well.

I'd like you to show that since it is easy.


Including crab, a 90 degree crosswind creates a groundspeed of cos(T) * true
airspeed, where T is the crab angle. cos(T) is always less than or equal to
1, so your groundspeed is always less than or equal to your true airspeed,
and so there is no POSITIVE tailwind component (if my inclusion of the word
"POSITIVE" here makes a difference to your previous post, then you're just
being intentionally obtuse, as my meaning was perfectly clear: a 90 degree
crosswind never increases your groundspeed, no matter how strong).

My question was about the headwind component, and I read it too quickly
and didn't catch the "without a correction" comment which I assume you
meant to discount the crab angle. Yes, a 90 crosswind will not add a
tailwind component, but it will add a headwind component due to the crab
angle required to stay on track.


Matt