Data set published in Dryad on December 31, 2020. Data can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vq83bk3rh **Abstract** The insect Central Complex (CX) is thought to underlie goal-oriented navigation but its organization is still not fully understood. We recorded from genetically-identified CX cell types in Drosophila and presented directional visual, olfactory, and airflow cues known to elicit orienting behavior. We found that a group of neurons targeting the ventral fan-shaped body (ventral P-FNs) are robustly tuned for airflow direction. Ventral P-FNs did not generate a “map” of airflow direction. Instead, cells in each hemisphere were tuned to 45° ipsilateral, forming a pair of orthogonal bases. Imaging experiments suggest that ventral P-FNs inherit their airflow tuning from neurons that provide input from the lateral accessory lobe (LAL) to the noduli (NO). Silencing ventral P-FNs prevented flies from selecting appropriate corrective turns following changes in airflow direction. Our results identify a group of central complex neurons that robustly encode airflow direction and are required for proper orientation to this stimulus. **Methods** Electrophysiology data from genetically labeled neurons in the central complex of Drosophila Imaging data from genetically labeled neurons in Drosophila Behavioral data from Drosophila collected in a closed-loop flight paradigm **Funding** National Institutes of Health, Award: R01DC017979 National Science Foundation, Award: IOS-1555933 McKnight Foundation, Award: Scholar Award New York University , Award: Dean's Dissertation Fellowship