We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2’in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as I work in our home office today, I certainly count it a blessing that our training, experience, and current technology allows Paula and me to work from literally anywhere we have an internet connection. This gives us the freedom to work and travel together nearly every day. Take time today to think of a blessing in your life, that you might otherwise take for granted.
As we continue on our Trek today, we spot a small airplane flying above us, so I want to continue our theme of flying and ask the question, why do planes take off and land heading into the wind?
When I first started flying lessons many years ago, the concept of taking off into the wind seemed counterintuitive. Wouldn’t a pilot have an easier time if the wind were coming from behind the aircraft giving it a push, so to speak, instead of rushing into a strong wind?
The key to taking off into the wind is the concept of lift. The more wind that passes over the wing of the plane will allow the plane to lift off the ground sooner. In short, pilots like to take off into a headwind because it helps them achieve “wheels up” faster. A jetliner like a Boeing 747, needs at least 150 mph of airspeed to become airborne, without wind, the plane has to accelerate to a groundspeed of 180 mph to lift off, but when you have a 30 mph headwind, the plane only has to accelerate to 150 mph, thanks to the extra boost it gets from the headwind.
Even a small plane, like the Cessna 172 that I flew, would benefit from the oncoming wind. The small planes can fly at extremely slow speeds, so a little headwind while taking off certainly allows the plane to achieve lift sooner.
Landing into the wind is also very crucial in aiding the airplane to slow its decent while maintaining adequate lift to keep it afloat until touch down. If you can slow your speed while descending at the proper rate it will provide a shorter roll out once you are on the runway.
As an aviation saying goes,
As with life, the wind won’t always blow exactly in the direction that is needed for taking off or landing, which is why most airports with more than one runway will have a runway that crosses the other, so there are alternative options. Even with that, good pilot training consists of taking off and landing in crosswinds also. Just like the Boy Scout motto reminds, one must “Always be prepared.”
Once you are airborne and at the right altitude, it is best if you can have the wind at your tail pushing you forward much...
