Is there a flight planning tool that uses winds for best routing?

[MountainDude]

I use FLyQ, which I like. It will select the route altitude based on the winds, but the route is always direct.

For long XC trips, I would like to explore non-direct routing that are based on the winds. Any tools out there?

 

[Eldorado]

Several books on “pressure flying” or ForeFlight has wind patterns for different altitudes.

 

[MountainDude]

Several books on “pressure flying” or ForeFlight has wind patterns for different altitudes.

I get very good wind patterns here:
https://www.windy.com/-Cloud-base-cbase?cbase,2020-04-30-00,46.347,-111.116,5

and can eyeball the best route. However, I can imagine that some flight planner may have built a minimization algorithm for this problem.

 

[BrianNC]

The MyRadar app for your phone has animated winds in it too like the link @MountainDude posted above. I just took a long screenshot. Of course you can zoom in to your area.

 

[smv]

I use FLyQ, which I like. It will select the route altitude based on the winds, but the route is always direct.

For long XC trips, I would like to explore non-direct routing that are based on the winds. Any tools out there?

Garmin Pilot takes into account current and forcast winds for both Direct and Routed flight plans. Note the 12 hour difference showing a different set of winds, time, and fuel required. The first one departs two minutes from now.

 

[kgruber]

Many will give you the best altitude. But the best route is the whole idea of pressure flying.