Please help me design a perfect wind sock.

[MichaelA2014]

Hello folks. I know it's a boating forum but I have a slightly off topic question and yet it is related to the sails, weather and UV. I need to build a perfect wind sock for our local aviation club. It will be 18" diameter x 96" long. The question is what would be a most long lasting fabric and thread to use? It will be exposed to the full sun and will be subjected to the same conditions as a boat sails yet soft enough to inflate with a 2 knot wind.

Any suggestion is greatly appreciated!

Thank you.

Mike

[micah719]

18 x 96 Aviation Quality Windsock [AWCS18-96] - $47.95 : Airport Windsock - windsocks, wind socks, aviation windsocks, windsock frames, Windsocks

$47.95, or at the micah-discount, just multiply by 7 and add 35.96 p&h.

[MichaelA2014]

Anybody can buy a windsock online. Where is fun in that? I want to sew my own.
Thank you for suggestion though

Originally Posted by micah719

18 x 96 Aviation Quality Windsock [AWCS18-96] - $47.95 : Airport Windsock - windsocks, wind socks, aviation windsocks, windsock frames, Windsocks

$47.95, or at the micah-discount, just multiply by 7 and add 35.96 p&h.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mike

[Delancey]

Sailrite is a good source for materials. The best threads for outdoor use are PTFE and will cost you $130 for a spool big enough to make a hundred wind socks.

Probably 4oz Nylon Flag Cloth in orange would be a good choice for material but I don't think Sailrite carries it with a urethane coating like the ready-made one Micah linked to.

Sailrite - Fabric, Canvas, and Sewing Machines Since 1969

[Cottontop]

A "real" windsock at an airport is also designed to indicate wind speed; horizontal at 15 knots, etc. if you care about this, will complicate the design.

[MichaelA2014]

Thank you for the welcome and all your suggestion guys. Looking deeper around this forum... what a wealth of knowledge!

Cheers!

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy and Welcome to CF!

One should not expect all answers on a forum to be serious or on topic.

It seems to me that the wind sock for an airport should be durable, dependable, and highly visible.

My caution: Do not pick a material that will get brittle and fray after long sun exposure. The other weak point will be the stitching, so pick UV resistant thread (the sail making thread mentioned earlier).

And, make sure the sock is long enough and will hang properly once put on the post.

How it is shaped, length and how it is eventually mounted is important.

While the following sock may get noticed it may also cause a pilot distraction.