SkyDemon Forums

Source of wind data

http://forums.skydemon.aero/Topic5703.aspx

By smithgd - 4/20/2012 6:55:24 PM

On the iPad app clicking on the wind icons reveals the wind direction, speed and level....

Only 2000ft winds are show, is there any way to get higher ones? I've tried increasing cruise level!

Where does the wind data come from? Is it the same as that which is available via the usual Met office forms?

Cheers
Graham
By Flylogical - 4/22/2012 7:13:06 PM

pink leader (22/04/2012)


I think we are, for the moment at least, still down to No 1 eyeball in flight - with forecasts as a good initial indicator on go/nogo for a flight.

FWIW

D


...yes, and nothing beats phoning some airfields/flying-clubs along your planned route before you go and asking "is anyone flying today ?". If the answer is "no", that's a good signal to put the kettle on and leave the aircraft in the hangar -- multiple Mk1 eyeballs along the route being better than one pair in one spot...

...But that's about weather in general. On the topic of winds aloft specifically, I would suggest that these days, proper wind planning is about fuel endurance mostly (correcting for wind during inflight nav is effectively trivial as long as the GPS is working and you can "follow the pink line" you shouldn't drift off too far). But poor wind planning can cause you to run out of fuel. I've posted a recent article about this if interested...

So, it would certainly be helpful to know where SkyDemon sources it's wind forecasts, and in any case, always check against others sources (and use the highest values in your endurance planning)-- especially if you are about to set off in an underpowered aircraft with low fuel state in a stong(ish) wind.