Navigational tools

[Redroach]

Yeah, I agree, there's a lot to be tuned as well here.
But, just a quick example: As told in the other thread, I had to go from Littlestone to Le Touquet tonight.
So I measured the angle between those two 'waypoints' with respect to an eastwards course, came up with a number around 50 degrees, and added this to the eastwards course -> I had to head for approx. 140deg.
Afterwards, I had to fly a little eastwards (90°) in order to be able to head directly to the north towards calais after that. With little landmark reference at that spot, I used the distance measuring tool and came up with a number of 9-point-something miles eastwards from Le Touquet, so I had a rough idea of how long to fly to the east.
After that, It was just proceeding northwards... so yeah, the tools are in fact handy. Though they need tuning, as you say

Regarding your example: Why not just do an airstart at the 'interesting part' ? I guess you're the same freak just like me who recognizes true missions only if they start and end on a runway/an airfield

[Blackdog_kt]

Yup, they are still very much functional, i do use them from time to time. I just don't need them that much yet because distances are small enough and there's some prominent landmarks, which makes navigating in daylight easy enough.

I do use them in the way you described though, mostly when sitting on the runway and warming up, in order to have a small flight plan ready by the time i'm about to take-off. I expect that if we were to start night raids they would see much more use, along with the compass and course setter in the cockpit.


As for my ramblings about future developments and the airstart question, it's not that i object to it out of principle. I just think it would be interesting to have the raid take place in its entirety even if under AI control if not enough players participate in it, simply because it would give other players the means to change the outcome. For example, the opposing team might have sent some Jabo 190s to bomb those heavies before they take off, or they might be spotted over the North Sea by chance, the intel gets passed on and a better defence is organized, etc.

[David198502]

regarding the navigation tools.i think its a really good idea how to implement them in a realistic manner.but i tried them now a few times in self made missions with the bf, and came to the conclusion, that either the tools or the compass measure slightly wrong angles.

[IvanK]

Originally Posted by David198502

regarding the navigation tools.i think its a really good idea how to implement them in a realistic manner.but i tried them now a few times in self made missions with the bf, and came to the conclusion, that either the tools or the compass measure slightly wrong angles.

I think you will find the Nav tool measures in degrees TRUE. The aircraft compass systems are obviously Magnetic. Variation in 1940 in this part of the world was around 10 degrees West.

So To obtain a Mag bearing from true just add 10 degrees to the True bearing. Try that see if that resolves the problem.

[Redroach]

yep, Ivan is right, when calibrating your gyro compass, you have to add around 10(.5, roundabout) deg. to your magnetic compass bearing. This was not yet implemented at CoD launch, but was fixed in a patch and mentioned in luthier's patchnotes.
Try that, you should achieve better results then.

P.S.: The explanation for this is that the headings on maps are 'calibrated' with respect to the earth's true north/south poles, i.e. the geographic poles, around which the earth rotates. The magnetic compass obivously measures geomagnetic north, wich is off by the mentioned value in the UK/France area.

[Redroach]

hmm any updates regarding the waypoint feature? How to best use them/delete them?
I figure it would be quite handy to use them as you can mark flak, ships, vehicles ect, too.

[Vengeanze]

When flying PF we printed out maps and prepared in forehand. That was vital if you wanted to have a chance to return to Essex.

In CloD, like already stated, the map is so small and landmarks everywhere so I can't see any use for advanced navigation.
We don't have bad weather nor overcast so IR is of no use.
Even if we had bad weather air missions at that time was never executed unless good conditions.

Sure, advanced navigation is fun but for now useless imo.

[notimejeff]

Redroach, can you confirm this please:
'...when calibrating your gyro compass, you have to add around 10(.5, roundabout) deg. to your magnetic compass bearing...'

I thought the procedure was to add/subtract variation to the TRUE bearing to get the Magnetic reading, and then add aircraft deviation to MAG bearing to get the correct gyro compass bearing. I assume deviation isn't modelled. So in this case we should add 10 deg to TRUE not to Magnetic reading. I'm no expert, please correct me if I'm wrong. Regards....

I guess you're the same freak just like me who recognizes true missions only if they start and end on a runway/an airfield

[notimejeff]

Does this apply to offline missions? Should I add 10 deg to the mag compass reading before setting the DG? Or is it just for the Nav tools?