Compass ?

notimejeff · #1 11-19-2012, 01:09 PM

Headings measaured on the in-game map or FMB are in True. To get magnetic heading you add 10: the variation in 1940 was !0 degrees West, so add 10 to true to get magnetic. Have I got that wrong?

Robo. · #2 11-19-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notimejeff

Headings measaured on the in-game map or FMB are in True. To get magnetic heading you add 10: the variation in 1940 was !0 degrees West, so add 10 to true to get magnetic. Have I got that wrong?

You got it right, if you want to fly geographic north, you need to set your in-game compass to 350.

In other words, if you fly straight North as shown on your compass you are actually flying 10° geographic.

*edit* now I see why you were asking, I wrote 'substract' but I added 10 in one bit.

*edit 2* - oh no, got it wrong here, of course you need to substract 10!

notimejeff · #3 11-19-2012, 01:46 PM

Thanks Robo, very helpful post. I have done flight planning with FSX, using a modern aeronautical map of southern England with ruler, protractor, old-fashioned wizz wheel flight computer. I then compared results by planning the same flights again with a computerized flight planner. Very instructive exercise.

Robo. · #4 11-19-2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notimejeff

I have done flight planning with FSX, using a modern aeronautical map of southern England with ruler, protractor, old-fashioned wizz wheel flight computer. I then compared results by planning the same flights again with a computerized flight planner. Very instructive exercise.

That's the way to do it, Sir! Nice one. Thanks for your comment, I didn't realise I made a mistake in there.

VO101_Tom · #5 11-19-2012, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robo.

In other words, if you fly straight North as shown on your compass you are actually flying 350° geographic.

Hi. The magnetic declination is 10° West (or -10° with other words). The compass show -10° compared to map direction.
So, if you fly to 360° compass direction, you fly to 10° on the map. Not 350°!

Robo. · #6 11-19-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VO101_Tom

Hi. The magnetic declination is 10° West (or -10° with other words). The compass show -10° compared to map direction.
So, if you fly to 360° compass direction, you fly to 10° on the map. Not 350°!

Yes, that's what I thought, see post 7. Then I thought I made a mistake when reading jeffs post and 'fixed' it on the mission description without thinking too much (just woke up

) I thought he was saying same thing like me and I did wrong math somehow as I actually added 10 in one leg of my original post. Will edit it back and fix it to avoid confusion, cheers Tom.

VO101_Tom · #7 11-19-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robo.

Yes, that's what I thought, see post 7. Then I thought I made a mistake when reading jeffs post and 'fixed' it on the mission description without thinking too much (just woke up

) I thought he was saying same thing like me and I did wrong math somehow as I actually added 10 in one leg of my original post. Will edit it back and fix it to avoid confusion, cheers Tom.

Ok

MB_Avro_UK · #8 11-19-2012, 10:31 PM

What about wind direction and speed? 'Still air' navigation is easy.

But wind is not a navigational factor in the game.

Wind Finding anyone?

If a wind takes you one degree off track, after 60 miles you'll miss your target by one mile. After 60 kms you'll miss your target by one km.

Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

Robo. · #9 11-20-2012, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB_Avro_UK

What about wind direction and speed? 'Still air' navigation is easy.

But wind is not a navigational factor in the game.

Wind Finding anyone?

If a wind takes you one degree off track, after 60 miles you'll miss your target by one mile. After 60 kms you'll miss your target by one km.

Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

Well the mission above is something for beginners, I mention that the wind is off to make things easier. I remember IvanK did some testing on speed and fuel consumption (iirc) and flew between Cap Grez Nes and Dungerness and he found there is some ambient wind on the Channel Map but I forgot what it was. It is possible to add some insanely strong wind in the mission, like in the default 'Cross Country' one. It is very interesting but I think that most players will be happy to set their compass and know what their HDG is at normal circumstances (= flying on ATAG)

Aussie Pilot · #10 11-20-2012, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB_Avro_UK

What about wind direction and speed? 'Still air' navigation is easy.

But wind is not a navigational factor in the game.

Wind Finding anyone?

If a wind takes you one degree off track, after 60 miles you'll miss your target by one mile. After 60 kms you'll miss your target by one km.

Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

Jeeze I learnt all that when I got my pilots licence but I can't remember how it all goes now...Doh!.

Basically you need to know the wind direction (heading) and speed, then use one of the many nav aid tools to work out what heading you require to stay on the correct track to get from point A to point B. Basically you end up pointing your nose in one direction (the heading) to allow for the wind blowing you of course while you plane is kind of flying sideways slightly on it's own heading (Track). Then as you turn your next course on your flight plan you change it all again.

I have a little whiz wheel that would help you work all that out, it's just been an age since I used it.