Free · Fluid mechanics calculators 💧

Wind Triangle Heading Correction

Calculate wind triangle heading correction with local equations, selectable units and supported inverse relationships.

  • Formula & worked example
  • Private in your browser
  • No signup
Go to tool

Calculator inputs

Loading calculator…

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the known values in the units shown. Results update as you type.
  2. Where results are editable, change one to solve backwards. Lock a value to hold it fixed.
  3. Use the worked example to check the method. Reset restores the starting fields.

Private by default

Inputs and results stay in this browser tab. Bookify does not upload or store the values you enter.

Formula and method

correction angle = 11.536959; heading = 11.536959. Values use the worked example unit selections.

WCA = asin[(Vwind/Vair)sin(wind-from direction−course)]; heading = course+WCA

Worked example

Enter these known values and leave the other values blank.

True airspeed
100 kn
Course (α)
0 deg
Wind speed
20 kn
Wind direction (β)
90 deg
Wind correction angle (θ)
12 deg
Heading (φ)
12 deg

Assumptions and limitations

  • Directions use the same angular reference and wind direction means the direction from which wind blows. The principal correction branch requires crosswind no greater than airspeed; this tool alone does not establish positive ground speed.
  • Unit selectors convert known physical quantities. Leave a supported unknown blank; derived inverse branches are limited by the stated model and available captured equations.
  • Heading is an unwrapped angle; reduce modulo 360 degrees when a compass heading is required.

Common questions

What does this calculation assume?

Directions use the same angular reference and wind direction means the direction from which wind blows. The principal correction branch requires crosswind no greater than airspeed; this tool alone does not establish positive ground speed.

Can I solve for an input?

Where the captured model supplies an inverse, leave that quantity blank and enter the remaining known quantities. A positive square-root or principal trigonometric inverse may represent only one of multiple mathematical branches.

Which unit should I use for the worked example?

The example uses the initial metric unit selection beside each field. Change a unit using its selector to convert the same known quantity; switching a unit does not change the underlying physical value.

References

Original accessible explanations preserve the captured diagram geometry, quantities and conditional variants without external image loading. Restrict the physical model to non-singular dimensions and stated principal inverse branches; discrete gear/fringe counts are exact integers.

Explore fluid mechanics calculators 💧 or browse all physics calculators.