Definition
During a turns-around-a-point maneuver, the upwind half is the portion of the circular ground track flown while the airplane is moving generally into the wind. In this half of the circle, groundspeed is lower than on the downwind half, so a shallower bank angle is required to hold the same radius around the reference point.
Plain English
It is the half of the circle you fly while heading into the wind. Because the wind is pushing against you, you move across the ground more slowly, so you need less bank to stay the same distance from the point on the ground.
Context Anchor
Used during turns around a point and other ground-reference maneuvers when adjusting bank for wind.
Derivation
Upwind means toward the direction the wind is coming from. In aviation, that helps because the upwind half is understood by comparing the airplane’s path to the wind, not by looking only at the airplane’s nose direction.
Why Pilots Care
Using the correct shallower bank on the upwind half keeps the turn radius constant; using too much bank causes the airplane to drift inward and lose the intended ground track.
Grounding Statement
Picture circling a point on a windy day: on the upwind half, the wind holds you back over the ground, so the turn can be gentler.
Intuition Check
Do not assume upwind half means the airplane is pointed straight into the wind the whole time. It means this half of the path is generally against the wind, so the airplane’s speed over the ground is lower.
Example Sentence 1
On the upwind half of the turn around a point, she eased the bank shallower to keep the radius constant.
Example Sentence 2
The upwind half of the turn feels slower over the ground and needs less bank than the downwind half to hold the same distance from the point.