ORIGINAL: TimT2000
ORIGINAL: brad59
Highhorse is correct but only addresses an aircraft in a constant state. As a pilot of RC aircraft and full scale planes for many years I know that one can see obvious effects when you turn away from or into the wind. The factor not addressed is acceleration. An plane flying in a strong wind which quickly turns 'downwind'' will not suddenly accelerate into the new airflow (wind). Depending on variables such as mass and drag the plane will take some time to accelerate to the new speed. During this time there can be a loss of speed and a resultant loss of lift. It is usually easily corrected with elevator application but the effect is real. The same thing can happen in reverse which is why many planes will climb as they turn into the wind.
Yes, a plane does not care what direction the wind is going, but it does care about changes in airspeed/lift. Nearly all of us have taken off into a strong wind and felt the plane try to sink out when we turn downwind. It's not imagined.........
Brad
A 200 ton object can not instantly go from 200mph to 220mph through a space, there is time involved.
Likewise turning into the wind does not magically dissipate the inertia,, it takes some time.</span></div><span style=''font-size: larger''>
Tim
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Where did you get the "instantly" from?
If, in still air, a 200 ton aircraft flying at 200mph does a 180 degree steep turn without adding power, it will take about 40 seconds or so to complete the turn...and the plane will lose speed in the turn due to the fact that the wing loading will be higher. So, at the completion of the turn, the plane's airspeed will have decreased to, let's say, 185 mph. When the plane is back in straight and level flight it will accelerate back up to 200mph...without touching the throttles.
Same situation except with a 50mph headwind before beginning the turn. The plane's air speeds will remain the same as in the previous example throughout the maneuver. The ground speeds, however, will be...beginning of turn=150mph. At the completion of the turn...235mph (185mph + 50mph on the tail). Without touching the throttle the plane will re-accelerate to 200mph airspeed and, of course, the ground speed will be 250mph.
The people in the aircraft will see no difference in the airspeeds with or without the presence of wind.