The heat transfer from a rotating cylinder in an air-cross flow was investigated by purely optical measuring techniques. Flow velocities were measured by a two-dimensional LDV both in the vicinity of the cylinder and in the boundary layer. A new optical device based on light-deflection in a temperature field was developed to examine local temperature gradients in the boundary layer of the rotating cylinder. Finally, a Michelson-interferometer was installed to produce real-time pictures of isothermal lines around the heated cylinder. The impact of rotation on flow patterns, boundary layer behaviour and heat transfer could be clearly identified. It appears that the velocity-ratio Ω acts like an independent parameter, in that flow patterns correspond to this dimensionless number. Furthermore, it seems that rotation dominates over cross flow, both fluid-dynamically and thermally above Ω = 2