PILOT ARCADE ALL MISSIONS

GROUND OPERATIONS / MISSION 11

Taxi Wind Control Trainer

WIND ANGLE · AILERON POSITION · ELEVATOR POSITION

TOP-DOWN VIEW

Read the wind relative to the airplane

TAP A WIND POSITION
WIND RELATIONSHIP LEFT-QUARTERING HEADWIND
CONTROL POSITIONDEMONSTRATED

PILOT INPUT

AIRCRAFT RESPONSE

AILERON / YOKELEFT — INTO WIND ELEVATOR / YOKENEUTRAL CONTROL SURFACESLEFT ↑ · RIGHT ↓ · ELEVATOR NEUTRAL

QUICK BRIEF

Eight angles, two control decisions

TYPICAL TRICYCLE-GEAR AIRPLANE
01Locate the wind

Read where the wind comes from relative to the airplane—not where it is going.

02Set the ailerons

For a headwind component, turn the yoke into the wind. For a tailwind component, turn it away.

03Set the elevator

Use neutral elevator with a headwind component. Hold the yoke forward with a tailwind component.

04Keep steering separate

The yoke manages wind effects. Use rudder, nosewheel steering, and brakes to control taxi direction.

MEMORY AIDHeadwind side: turn into the wind. Tailwind side: forward and away.

TRAINING SCOPE: This trainer models the standard FAA taxi-control guidance for a typical tricycle-gear airplane. Follow the aircraft flight manual and instructor guidance for the airplane you fly. Tailwheel-specific elevator technique is outside this version.

FREE TAXI WIND CORRECTION PRACTICE

Choose the correct control position while taxiing

Practice recognizing quartering headwinds and tailwinds, then select the corresponding aileron and elevator position for a typical tricycle-gear airplane. Randomized wind directions help turn the memory aid into a usable cockpit habit.

Quartering headwind

Turn the ailerons into the wind and normally keep the elevator neutral while maintaining directional control.

Quartering tailwind

Move the ailerons away from the wind and hold the elevator down—often remembered as forward and away.

Aircraft differences

Control recommendations may differ for tailwheel airplanes and specific designs. Follow the POH or AFM and instructor guidance.