How to Make an Aviation Windsock
In aviation, windsocks have been long used to determine the direction and strength of the wind. Their distinctive cone shape can still be seen along runways everywhere, even though airports today have more sophisticated devices for measuring the wind. Windsocks may be made on a home sewing machine. If you are not experienced at sewing, be sure to have someone who is to help you. Kids may need an adult to help hang the windsock when finished.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 yard heavy cloth
- 4 pieces of heavy wire
- Wire coat hanger
- 1-yard long stick
- Large nail
- Wooden spool
Instructions
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1
Cut the fabric into a cone sleeve. Draw a triangular cone shape about 36 inches long and 12 inches wide at the mouth onto the fabric. Cut, removing the narrow point of the cone, making a curved opening instead. So you'll have a smaller curve (which is actually the back end or bottom of the windsock) and a larger curve for the top or front. The two sides are straight and angle out from the bottom curve to the larger, top curve.
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2
Sew the two straight sides together. For a neater edge, turn under and hem the smaller round opening, the back end of the windsock. Or if you have a serger, serge the end.
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3
Turn the larger opening end under and sew it, making a casing. So be sure to leave a part of the casing open for threading through the wire.
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4
Turn the coat hanger into a wire loop, approximately 9 inches in diameter. It should be the same diameter as the larger opening in the windsock. Do not close the wire loop off just yet.
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5
Thread the wire loop through the casing on the windsock. When it comes back out the opening, twist off the wire, making it a closed loop.
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6
Take the four pieces of wire, each approximately 10 inches long, and attach them to the loop. Punch through the fabric, go around the encased wire, and twist off the wire securely so you now have four equally spaced wires dangling off the opening of the windsock.
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7
Wrap and bind the dangling ends of wire around the spool. Make sure they are holding on securely.
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8
Drive a nail through the hole in the spool to attach it to the top of the stick or pole. The nail should be a smaller diameter than the spool hole so that the spool can spin around on the nail. But the nail head must be large enough that the spool won't easily pull off the top. Now fix the pole into the ground.
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