Headwinds, always

Peter Duniho wrote:

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
news
[...]
So I appears that my recollection was faulty. But it seems counter
intuitive, that a 90-degree crosswind contributes half its velocity to
a tailwind component.


That's because you need to take into account the application of that
particular resource. Applying that sort of thinking to cruise flight IS
counter-intuitive, because it's not correct in that context.

It's not even literally correct in the context of the article you quoted,
but nevertheless the article you quoted has useful information in it.
First, it's a discussion of landing, not cruising. Second, it's a
collection of rules of thumb, not a precise analysis of reality.

It is easy to show that mathematically, a 90 degree crosswind results in no
tailwind component. Without a correction, it results in no headwind
component as well.

I'd like you to show that since it is easy. And a crosswind is relative
to your track, not your heading. OK, now show us the math! :-)

Matt