If you have a true airspeed of 95 knots and a groundspeed of 87 knots, what does this indicate about the wind?

Prepare for the Commercial Pilot Airplane Exam with targeted questions. Use flashcards and multiple choice formats that include hints and explanations. Ace your test!

When you have a true airspeed of 95 knots and a groundspeed of 87 knots, it indicates that the aircraft is experiencing a reduction in its groundspeed compared to its true airspeed. This scenario implies that the airplane is encountering a headwind—that is, a wind blowing directly against the direction of flight. The headwind is subtracting from the aircraft's groundspeed, which makes the ground speed lower than the true airspeed.

The relationship between true airspeed and groundspeed is essential for understanding the effect of wind on an aircraft's performance. True airspeed reflects the speed of the aircraft through the air, while groundspeed reflects how fast the aircraft is moving over the ground. When the groundspeed is less than the true airspeed, it confirms the presence of a wind component acting opposite to the aircraft's flight path, thus indicating that the pilot is flying into a headwind.

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