diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.cpp b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.cpp
index 8ffdf96a44..ec97c7711c 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.cpp
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.cpp
@@ -565,7 +565,9 @@ void Aircraft::update_dynamics(const Vector3f &rot_accel)
 void Aircraft::update_wind(const struct sitl_input &input)
 {
     // wind vector in earth frame
-    wind_ef = Vector3f(cosf(radians(input.wind.direction)), sinf(radians(input.wind.direction)), 0) * input.wind.speed;
+    wind_ef = Vector3f(cosf(radians(input.wind.direction))*cosf(radians(input.wind.dir_z)), 
+                       sinf(radians(input.wind.direction))*cosf(radians(input.wind.dir_z)), 
+                       sinf(radians(input.wind.dir_z))) * input.wind.speed;
 
     const float wind_turb = input.wind.turbulence * 10.0f;  // scale input.wind.turbulence to match standard deviation when using iir_coef=0.98
     const float iir_coef = 0.98f;  // filtering high frequencies from turbulence
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.h
index 6a64231494..c2a0727325 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Aircraft.h
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ public:
             float speed;      // m/s
             float direction;  // degrees 0..360
             float turbulence;
+            float dir_z;	  //degrees -90..90 
         } wind;
     };
 
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SITL.cpp b/libraries/SITL/SITL.cpp
index 18b025a355..86fb46d1ec 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SITL.cpp
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SITL.cpp
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ const AP_Param::GroupInfo SITL::var_info2[] = {
     AP_GROUPINFO("ARSPD_PITOT",  7, SITL,  arspd_fail_pitot_pressure, 0),
     AP_GROUPINFO("GPS_ALT_OFS",  8, SITL,  gps_alt_offset, 0),
     AP_GROUPINFO("ARSPD_SIGN",   9, SITL,  arspd_signflip, 0),
+    AP_GROUPINFO("WIND_DIR_Z",  10, SITL,  wind_dir_z,     0),
     AP_GROUPEND
 };
     
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SITL.h b/libraries/SITL/SITL.h
index cd954ab450..b3b7b2713d 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SITL.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SITL.h
@@ -128,10 +128,12 @@ public:
     // wind control
     float wind_speed_active;
     float wind_direction_active;
+    float wind_dir_z_active;
     AP_Float wind_speed;
     AP_Float wind_direction;
     AP_Float wind_turbulance;
     AP_Float gps_drift_alt;
+    AP_Float wind_dir_z;
 
     AP_Int16  baro_delay; // barometer data delay in ms
     AP_Int16  mag_delay; // magnetometer data delay in ms