About

Mission planning involves more than battery capacity. It requires understanding how external forces, particularly wind, affect the effective range of an aircraft. A drone flying into a headwind consumes energy to cover distance at a slower ground speed, while a tailwind assists propulsion. This tool calculates the effective flight time and maximum operational range for a round trip, accounting for wind vector physics.

Ignoring wind resistance is a common cause of drone loss during long-range (LR) missions. A return trip against a picking-up wind can double the energy requirement, leading to a "fail-safe" landing in an irretrievable location.

Formulas

Ground speed is the vector sum of air speed and wind speed. For a direct headwind/tailwind scenario:

Ground Speed:

v_ground = v_air ± v_wind

The time required to travel a specific distance d is:

Time:

t = dv_ground

For a round trip with constant wind, the total time is the sum of the outbound and return legs.

Reference Data

Wind Condition	Air Speed	Wind Speed	Ground Speed (Out)	Ground Speed (Return)	Efficiency Loss
Calm	15 m/s	0 m/s	15 m/s	15 m/s	0%
Light Breeze	15 m/s	3 m/s	18 m/s	12 m/s	~4%
Moderate Wind	15 m/s	7 m/s	22 m/s	8 m/s	~28%
Strong Wind	15 m/s	12 m/s	27 m/s	3 m/s	~90%

Frequently Asked Questions

Wind primarily affects Ground Speed. However, to maintain position or fight a headwind, the flight controller may increase motor RPM, increasing current draw (Amps). This tool focuses on Kinematics (Speed/Distance), but pilots should also assume higher power consumption in high winds.

If Wind Speed > Air Speed in a headwind scenario, the Ground Speed becomes negative. The drone will move backward relative to the ground despite flying forward at full throttle. This is a "fly-away" situation.

If you fly out with a tailwind, you cover ground quickly. Returning against that same wind reduces your ground speed significantly, meaning you spend more time in the air to cover the same distance. Since Energy = Power × Time, spending more time means draining more battery.