Definition
A fabric, cone-shaped sleeve mounted on a pole at an airport that shows wind direction and gives a rough indication of wind speed. The open end faces into the wind, and the cone extends and lifts toward the horizontal as wind speed increases.
Plain English
A bright orange fabric tube on a pole at the airport. It points away from the wind so pilots can see which way the wind is blowing and how strong it is.
Context Anchor
Seen on or near airports, especially near runways, so pilots can check surface wind before takeoff, landing, or taxiing.
Derivation
From 'wind' and 'cone,' describing its shape. Often called a 'windsock' for the same reason — it looks like a sock or cone catching the wind. Naming it for its shape helps pilots remember that the wide end catches the wind and the narrow end points downwind.
Why Pilots Care
Gives pilots an immediate visual reference for wind direction and strength before takeoff or landing, supporting safe runway selection and crosswind corrections.
Intuition Check
Do not read a wind cone as a precise wind instrument. It gives a quick visual clue: direction clearly, speed only roughly.
Example Sentence 1
On downwind, the pilot glanced at the wind cone and confirmed a left crosswind on the chosen runway.
Example Sentence 2
Maintenance replaced the faded wind cone so it would remain clearly visible to arriving traffic at dusk.