Weathervaning or weathercocking is a phenomenon experienced by aircraft on the ground and rotorcraft on the ground and when hovering.
Aircraft on the ground have a natural pivoting point on a plane through the
main landing gear contact points
isregarding the effects of toe in/toe out">toe_in.html" ;"title="isregarding the effects of toe in">isregarding the effects of toe in/toe out of the main gear">toe in">isregarding the effects of toe in/toe out">toe_in.html" ;"title="isregarding the effects of toe in">isregarding the effects of toe in/toe out of the main gear As most of the side area of an aircraft will typically be behind this pivoting point, any crosswind will create a Stability derivatives, yawing moment tending to turn the nose of the aircraft into the wind.
It is not to be confused with Flight dynamics, directional stability, as experienced by aircraft in flight.
The term also refers to a similar phenomenon in fin-guided small rockets which, when launched vertically, will tend to turn into a flight path that takes them upwind.
See also
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Weathervane
A wind vane, weather vane, or weathercock is an instrument used for showing the direction of the wind. It is typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building. The word ''vane'' comes from the Old English word , m ...
References
Aircraft operations
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