An airplane is headed southwest (bearing 225°) with an air speed of 550 miles per hour, with the wind blowing from the northwest (bearing 135°) at a speed of 110 miles per hour. Find the drift angle, ground speed, and the course of the airplane.

Answer 1

planes fly headings, not bearings.
Turn your data into vectors. Add the vectors, and convert back to speed and heading.

550@225° = <-389,-389>
110@135° = <78,-78>
So, the resultant velocity is <-311,-467> = 561@214°

I'll leave the drift angle up to you. Draw a diagram of the vectors involved.

Answer 2

Vr = 550mi/h[225o] + 110mi/h[135o].

X = 550*sin225 + 110*sin135 = -311.1 mi/h.
Y = 550*Cos225 + 110*Cos135 = -466.7 mi/h.

Vr = -311.1 - 466.7i = 561mi/h[33.7o] = 561mi/h[214o]CW(Bearing) =
Resultant velocity and Direction.

Drift = 225-214 =

Answer 3

Note: 33.7o W. of S. = 214o CW from +Y-axis.