Free sim
Traffic Pattern
A good pattern is a rectangle over the ground — which means the wind is always trying to bend it. Dial in the wind and watch what a correctly-flown pattern demands: the crab angle changes on every leg, groundspeed swells on downwind and sags on final, and the bank in each turn follows. The windsock shows the wind you set — land facing into it.
Left traffic at 80 knots airspeed, wind 12 knots from 90 degrees. Crab and groundspeed by leg, in the order flown. Upwind: up to 0 degrees of crab, groundspeed 68 knots. Crosswind: up to 9 degrees of crab, groundspeed 68 to 79 knots. Downwind: up to 9 degrees of crab, groundspeed 81 to 92 knots. Base: up to 9 degrees of crab, groundspeed 79 to 92 knots. Final: up to 9 degrees of crab, groundspeed 68 to 77 knots.
Left traffic with the wind dialed in — the standard traffic pattern, leg by leg: upwind, crosswind, downwind leg, base, then final. The crab on each is what keeps the rectangle a rectangle; the windsock points where the wind is going, so land facing into it.
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Next step
- ATC phraseology sheet (printable)
- 3D windsock — read the wind before you pick the runway
- Light gun signals — a verified checkride question
- Right-of-way order — a verified checkride question
- Find your weak areas — the free 24-question Readiness Test, scored by knowledge area.
- Create a free account for the full bank: 2,074 verified questions with the FAA source on every answer, a timed practice exam, and a missed-questions drill.
The Private Pilot Quick-Review Study Guide covers this in the airport operations chapter. It is in CFI review and not on sale yet; the guide page has the list for launch notes.