Wind Triangle (E6B) Calculator

Solve the wind triangle to find true heading, wind correction angle, and ground speed. The digital equivalent of the E6B flight computer wind side.

True Airspeed (TAS)

Light aircraft: 90–180 kt

True Course

Wind Direction (from)

Wind Speed

Light: 0–10 kt, Moderate: 10–25 kt, Strong: 25+ kt

Tab to move between fields

True Heading

90°

Ground Speed

140 kt

Wind Correction Angle (WCA)0°

Headwind Component-20 kt

Crosswind Component0 kt

Crosswind DirectionRight

How to Use This Calculator

How the result changes with True Course

True Airspeed (TAS): Your aircraft's true airspeed. Calculate from IAS using the True Airspeed calculator.
True Course: Your desired track over the ground, measured from true north. Get from your sectional chart or GPS.
Wind Direction (from): Direction the wind is blowing FROM in true degrees. Winds aloft are always given in true. Surface winds (METAR/ATIS) are magnetic — convert if needed.
Wind Speed: Wind speed in knots from winds aloft forecast (FD) or METAR.

True Heading: Point the aircraft nose this direction (true) to maintain your desired course.
Ground Speed: Your actual speed over the ground after wind effect.
Wind Correction Angle (WCA): Crab angle into the wind. Positive = right, negative = left.
Headwind Component: Positive = headwind (slows you), negative = tailwind (speeds you up).
Crosswind Component: Crosswind magnitude regardless of left/right.
Crosswind Direction: Which side the crosswind is coming from.

Wind Angle
Wind Angle = Wind Direction − True Course
270° − 90° = 180°
Wind Correction Angle (WCA)
sin(WCA) = (Wind Speed × sin(Wind Angle)) ÷ TAS
(20 × sin(180°)) ÷ 120 = +0.0° (crab right)
True Heading
True Heading = True Course + WCA
90° + 0.0° = 90°
Ground Speed
GS = TAS × cos(WCA) − Headwind
120 × cos(0.0°) − (-20.0) = 140 kt