"Classic" 3-blade HAWTs (the same style as modern off-show wind turbines) are aerofoils, they're working on lift - like a sailing boat or glider - and are surp

"Classic" 3-blade HAWTs (the same style as modern off-show wind turbines) are aerofoils, they're working on lift - like a sailing boat or glider - and are surprisingly narrowly angled to wind direction. Darrieus VAWTs are operating by the same mechanism for a deal of each blades rotation. Unless you're thinking of "American" style wind turbines that used to drive water pumps, which are like like water wheels and closer to Savonius VAWTs in operation. I think people often mistakenly think of 3-blade HAWTs as working principally in the same way as a anemometer.