When conducting rigging and alignment checks outdoors, how should the aircraft be positioned?

For conducting rigging and alignment checks outdoors, positioning the aircraft nose into the wind is crucial. This placement ensures that any potential wind influences are minimized on the control surfaces during the checks. When the aircraft faces into the wind, it allows for more accurate readings and helps in stabilizing the control surfaces, reducing any unintended movement caused by gusts or air currents.

Having the wings level is typically important for ensuring accurate measurements and leveling of the aircraft; however, it does not address the impact of wind on those measurements as effectively as positioning the nose into the wind does. Similarly, facing south can be beneficial for other operational reasons, but it does not directly contribute to the reliability and accuracy during rigging and alignment checks. Lastly, a high angle of attack is generally not suitable for alignment procedures, as it can create complications with measurement accuracy and does not relate to the need for a stable position in the wind. Thus, positioning the aircraft nose into the wind maximizes the conditions for an accurate and effective rigging and alignment check.