Definition
On a surface analysis chart, a solid filled triangle (flag-shaped symbol) attached to a wind barb that represents 50 knots of wind speed. Pennants are combined with full barbs (10 knots) and half barbs (5 knots) on the shaft to indicate total wind speed at the reporting station.
Plain English
A small filled-in triangle on a wind symbol that stands for 50 knots of wind. You add it together with the lines on the same symbol to get the total wind speed.
Context Anchor
Seen on weather chart station plots, where wind direction and wind speed are shown with marks attached to the wind symbol.
Derivation
From the Latin penna, meaning 'feather' or 'wing,' which became 'pennant' for a small triangular flag. On a wind barb, the symbol looks like a tiny triangular flag attached to the shaft — hence the name.
Why Pilots Care
Enables quick reading of high wind speeds that affect aircraft performance, turbulence, and crosswind limits during flight planning.
Analogy
Think of it like a small flag on a pole, but instead of decoration, it carries a number value: one filled triangle means 50 knots of wind.
Intuition Check
Do not read pennant as just a decorative flag. On this chart, it is a wind-speed mark: one pennant equals 50 knots.
Example Sentence 1
The wind barb over the station showed one pennant and two full barbs, indicating a surface wind of 70 knots.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot scanned the pennants on the analysis chart to confirm that winds remained below aircraft limits for the planned route.