diff --git a/glue-codes/fast-farm/src/FASTWrapper.f90 b/glue-codes/fast-farm/src/FASTWrapper.f90
index 65b8e90f1a..3207a139b2 100644
--- a/glue-codes/fast-farm/src/FASTWrapper.f90
+++ b/glue-codes/fast-farm/src/FASTWrapper.f90
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ SUBROUTINE FWrap_Init( InitInp, u, p, x, xd, z, OtherState, y, m, Interval, Init
 
    TYPE(FAST_ExternInitType)                       :: ExternInitData 
    INTEGER(IntKi)                                  :: j,k,nb      
+   REAL(ReKi)                                      :: p0(3)       ! hub location (in FAST with 0,0,0 as turbine reference)
+   REAL(R8Ki)                                      :: orientation(3,3)  ! temp orientation array
    
    INTEGER(IntKi)                                  :: ErrStat2    ! local error status
    CHARACTER(ErrMsgLen)                            :: ErrMsg2     ! local error message
@@ -196,12 +198,19 @@ SUBROUTINE FWrap_Init( InitInp, u, p, x, xd, z, OtherState, y, m, Interval, Init
                          )
             if (Failed()) return;
             
-            ! set node initial position/orientation
-         ! shortcut for 
-         ! call MeshPositionNode(m%ADRotorDisk(k), j, [0,0,r(j)], errStat2, errMsg2)
-         m%ADRotorDisk(k)%Position(3,:) = p%r ! this will get overwritten later, but we check that we have no zero-length elements in MeshCommit()
+         ! set node initial position/orientation
+         ! NOTE:  the mesh data for ADRotorDisk gets overwritten before use so it isn't actually important
+         !        that this match the method used later in the code.  We can't use the method from later
+         !        in the code since the `hub_theta_x_root` is not known at this point.  So instead, we
+         !        will use the input blade root orientation to set the direction.  This does not result
+         !        in a flat disk, but should allow the mesh mapping to work.
+         p0 = m%Turbine%AD%Input(1)%rotors(1)%HubMotion%Position(:,1) + m%Turbine%AD%Input(1)%rotors(1)%HubMotion%TranslationDisp(:,1) 
+         m%ADRotorDisk(k)%RefOrientation(:,:,1) = m%Turbine%AD%Input(1)%rotors(1)%BladeRootMotion(k)%Orientation(:,:,1)
+         do j=1,p%nr
+            m%ADRotorDisk(k)%Position(:,j) = p0 + p%r(j)*m%ADRotorDisk(k)%RefOrientation(3,:,1)
+         end do
          m%ADRotorDisk(k)%TranslationDisp = 0.0_R8Ki ! this happens by default, anyway....
-         
+
             ! create line2 elements
          do j=1,p%nr-1
             call MeshConstructElement( m%ADRotorDisk(k), ELEMENT_LINE2, errStat2, errMsg2, p1=j, p2=j+1 );   if (Failed()) return;