I prefer that the arresting area of the deck be about 45 degrees past dead downwind, so that you are landing with some headwind. If you put the deck dead downwind, you are actually landing with a tailwind which makes the plane accelerate. If you position the deck too much into the wind, you may have to fight with "ballooning" on landing. Also, planes that aren't real strong getting off the deck sometimes have trouble, because almost immediately after clearing the deck, the wind is in the pilot's face and can blow the plane in.. Ask 10 different carrier pilots, expect 10 different answers.

Thanks for the help.

Jim

Wayne,

It is a VERY basic set up just to see if there is enough interest locally to justify a real deck. 
Actually, it's a couple of 1"x4"x8ft. pine strips with screw eyes 24" apart, secured to the ground, 8 ft. apart, with large nails.  Five pound sand bag at each end of 4 arresting lines made of 3/16" dia. line.

We had winds 15-20 mph today and were able to get all the Sat. aerobatic events done, but no takers on the "deck".  Maybe tomorrow; wind is forecast to be 5 to 10, but I've learned to never trust a smiling weather man!

Jim

The site is smooth grass, actually one of our CL stunt practice circles.

Jim