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While maneuvering at a constant airspeed, how does the airplane’s groundspeed change as it turns from heading directly into the wind to heading directly downwind?

Choices

  • ✓ Groundspeed increases from below the airspeed to above itcorrect

    Headed upwind the groundspeed is less than airspeed; headed downwind it is greater, so it increases through the turn.

  • Groundspeed decreases steadily

    Turning from upwind to downwind increases, not decreases, groundspeed.

  • Groundspeed stays exactly equal to airspeed

    Only in still air does groundspeed equal airspeed; wind makes them differ.

  • Groundspeed becomes zero at the downwind point

    Downwind, groundspeed is highest, not zero.

Why

When headed upwind the wind reduces groundspeed below the airspeed; when headed downwind it adds to the airspeed, so groundspeed is greatest downwind and least upwind.

FAA source: Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3 Ch. 7 (Drift and Ground Track Control; Constant Radius During Turning Flight)browse the reference library →

This is taught in Ground Reference Maneuvers: Flying a Track Over the Ground — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.

While maneuvering at a constant airspeed, how does the airplane’s gro… · PPL Free Ground School