This data was collected to identify the brain regions and circuit organizations that support navigation. In insects, the central complex (CX) is thought to control many aspects of navigation. The CX is a highly organized neuropil, which consists of the protocerebral bridge, the ellipsoid body, the fan-shaped body, and the paired noduli. This study contains electrophysiology, imaging, and behavioral data. Electrophysiological recordings identified CX cell types in Drosophila and presented directional visual, olfactory, and airflow cues known to elicit orienting behavior. They found that a group of neurons targeting the ventral fan-shaped body (ventral P-FNs) are robustly tuned for airflow direction. Imaging experiments suggest that ventral P-FNs inherit their airflow tuning from neurons that provide input from the lateral accessory lobe to the noduli. This study also found that silencing ventral P-FNs prevents flies from selecting appropriate corrective turns following changes in airflow direction.