Drift Angle Calculator

Reviewed By: Patrick Myers (BSME)

Enter the crosswind component and aircraft speed into the Calculator. The calculator will evaluate the Drift Angle (also called wind correction angle) for the selected scenario.

Drift Angle Crosswind/Headwind WCA & GS

Enter any 2 values to calculate the missing variable (assumes a pure 90° crosswind, so wind speed here means the crosswind component).

Preset: Aircraft/Operation (sets True Airspeed) Preset: Crosswind Component Crosswind Component

True Airspeed (TAS)

Drift Angle / WCA

Drift Angle Formula

DA = \arcsin\left(\frac{CW}{TAS}\right)

Variables:

DA is the drift angle (degrees or radians)
CW is the crosswind component (perpendicular to the desired track), in any speed unit
TAS is the true airspeed (or aircraft speed through the air), in the same speed unit as CW

To calculate drift angle, use the crosswind component (not total wind speed), divide by true airspeed, and take the inverse sine. If your calculator returns radians, convert to degrees by multiplying by 180/π.

How to Calculate Drift Angle?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Drift Angle.

First, determine the wind speed and direction and compute the crosswind component (perpendicular to the course/runway).
Next, determine the aircraft true airspeed (TAS) in the same speed unit as the crosswind component.
Next, gather the formula from above = DA = arcsin(CW / TAS).
Finally, calculate the Drift Angle (and convert to degrees if needed).
After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem :

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

crosswind component (knots) = 30

true airspeed (knots) = 120

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a drift angle in aviation?

Drift angle is the angle between the aircraft's heading and the actual track that the aircraft is making over the ground. It is caused by crosswinds pushing the aircraft sideways as it moves forward.

How does wind speed affect drift angle?

The higher the crosswind component, the greater the potential drift angle, assuming the aircraft's airspeed remains constant. Pilots must adjust their heading to compensate for this drift to maintain their intended course.

Can the drift angle be negative?

Yes, the drift angle can be considered negative if the wind is coming from the opposite side of the intended direction of travel, requiring the pilot to adjust the heading in the opposite direction to maintain the course.

Why is calculating drift angle important?

Calculating and compensating for drift angle is crucial for navigation and safety in aviation. It ensures that an aircraft reaches its intended destination efficiently without being pushed off course by wind. It is also vital for accurate flight planning and fuel calculations.

Follow-Up Calculations

If your drift angle comes out to 5° in a fast sweeper, that usually means the tires are already using a meaningful amount of lateral grip. The safe cornering speed estimate helps you translate that grip into a realistic top speed for the same corner radius and surface, which is exactly what you want before pushing harder.

On an oval car, adding 1 inch of rear tire stagger can change the steady-state drift angle by a couple of degrees, which is often enough to make the car feel freer in one direction. The rear tire offset is what you use to balance turn-in and tire scrub before chasing setup changes elsewhere.

If your car is running with a 4° drift angle on the highway or in a sweeping turn, the tires are no longer rolling perfectly straight and that extra scrub can add noticeable tread roar. You can estimate the noise from tire scrub to judge whether the sound is just normal cornering noise or a sign of alignment or handling issues.