Navigation in Hurricane and Spitfire

[jf1981]

Originally Posted by jimbop

Is anyone successfully navigating from instruments in the Hurricane[...] ?

Jimbop,

Yes this works fine. You have to adjust regularly, flying straight will not induce a decay but sharp turn will. Smooth turn won't (directional gyro however needs to be checked from time to time and readjusted. Turning around will shift it slowly, nuless you're really careful.

Same happens for artificial horizon, it works very well but only under smooth a/c control. Anything else will make it turn upsidedown or bank.

I would recommend to keep the director North pointing 0 and use this chart, you mirror flip the "T" position on magnetic compass, this gives you a real magetic headin at once, see attached example.

Hope I'm not too messy, let me know if you don't understand. Remember adding 10 degree, geographic N is magnetic 10°, for any geographic heading H you need to follow a magnetic path H+10°.

Attachment represent the bottom magnetic compass in its default position. This is N at top position.