CROSSWIND
A new 5x5 aviation mini crossword every day. Beat the clock.
How to play
- Fill the 5x5 grid. Every across and down word has an aviation-flavored clue.
- Tap a square to select it, and tap again to flip between across and down. Use the on-screen keys or your keyboard.
- The clock starts on your first letter. Check and Reveal can help, but they mark your flight as assisted and keep it off the leaderboard.
- Unassisted solves score 10000 minus 10 points per second on TODAY'S FASTEST board. A new puzzle arrives every local midnight, and the archive lets you practice past ones.
Why pilots like it
The clues lean on real aviation knowledge: airport identifiers, phonetic words, aircraft parts and weather terms. A five-minute mini crossword makes a nice warm-up on the ramp or a way to fill a long weather delay, and the speed board gives it a competitive edge.
Curious how pilots track traffic in the real world? Read how ADS-B works.
Frequently asked questions
Is CROSSWIND a daily aviation crossword?
Yes. A new compact 5x5 puzzle with pilot-themed clues appears every day.
How is the score calculated?
Unassisted solves score 10000 minus 10 per second, so every second counts.
What counts as an assisted solve?
Using Check or Reveal. Those solves are still fun, but they do not appear on the leaderboard.
Can I play past puzzles?
Yes. Practice mode lets you replay earlier puzzles without touching your stats or the daily board.