[Rhodes22-list] Sextants

Tue Oct 12 14:52:23 EDT 2004

Bill,

All airplane manufacturers are required to submit a
minimum equipment list (MEL) to be certified by the
FAA and every foreign government.  

Compasses?

Boeing - 707,727,737,757,767,777 - a single working
compass is required.

Airbus - A300, A310, A319, A320, A340 - a single
working compass is required

That damn compass seems pretty important despite all
the modern wizbang equipment.  Lindbergh missed his
target off the coast of Ireland by three miles.  Those
damn unreliable compasses! 

I'd love to learn how to use a sextant.  In the
meantime, the compass works pretty well!

Brad

--- Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:

> Bob,
> 
> Compasses are wildly inaccurate, including
> fluxgates.  Nobody corrects them anymore.  Most of
> them can't even be corrected.  Roger's toy may be
> interesting for other reasons, but not as a
> navigational tool.  The boat is moving, you are
> moving, and the compass bearing is a guess at best.
> 
> A sextant is a much better tool.  Start on land.  I
> can put myself within 6 feet of my actual location
> on land.  Sextant bearings on a boat are harder, but
> the people who know how to do it, and practice all
> the time will give you better bearings than laser
> range finder binoculars every time.  Sextant
> bearings are more reliable than GPS bearings.  Last
> time I checked their was still a guy on all our big
> military ships taking sextant bearings.
> 
> You can use a sextant horizontally to get compass
> bearings far more accurately than fooling around
> with those oil filled things with a magnet inside.
> 
> You can get a high quality plastic sextant for $250
> that will test the accuracy of a traditional fix far
> more accurately than a laser range finder binocular.
>  There are numerous programs available so you just
> plug your readings into the program to calculate the
> full sight reduction.
> 
> Compass bearings used as Roger proposes also require
> computers to calculate the compass deviation for the
> exact spot you think you're at, unless you know how
> to use a pelorus--another dying art--another
> forgotten tool.
> 
> Bill Effros
>                                      
> 
> 
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> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Bob Weber 
> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org 
> Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 11:53 AM
> Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Radio - FM Recption -
> GPS Map
> 
> 
> Brad, right now I am pushing for Rogers laser range
> finder, binoculars, 
> compass, thing.  I would propably have a heart
> attack at the price.  But if 
> it had a bottle opener and tweezers that might sway
> the deal.  Seriously I 
> am looking toward getting certified to teach
> navigation and that could 
> really help with fixes or at least test the accuracy
> of a traditional fix.  
> Bob
> 
> >From: brad haslett <flybrad at yahoo.com>
> >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Radio - FM Recption -
> GPS Map
> >Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 08:18:34 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> >Bob,
> >
> >About half the DC-10 fleet has Inertial Nav and
> half
> >has two VOR's, same as a Cessna 150.  Often times
> >center will give us direct to somewhere and I have
> to
> >reply, "we're navigationally challenged" or "we're
> >heading equipped". Some guys were carrying
> handhelds
> >but the FAA and the company put the squash on it. 
> The
> >non jurrasic jet equipment, Airbus and MD-11's have
> >GPS moving map displays.
> >
> >Frankly, my handheld is more than enough for the
> boat.
> >  Christmas is coming though and I don't know what
> to
> >buy for myself.
> >
> >Brad
> >
> >
> >--- Bob Weber <ruba1811 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Brad, I have found the GPS to be great on the
> boat.
> > > I have brought it in
> > > the car before but never found a use for it.  If
> I
> > > were to be travelling to
> > > parts unknowen it would be helpful.   It doesnt
> have
> > > verbal comands "turn
> > > right in 50 feet" but you should be able to get
> that
> > > from the display.  I
> > > cant believe you dont already have a handheld
> GPS
> > > for backup while flying.
> > > I guess it is more helpful in the egg beaters
> than
> > > in commercial jets.  As
> > > far as XM.  I am not in a rush to pay for radio.
>  We
> > > all were in a hurry to
> > > pay for tv.  Remember the promise.  Pay monthly
> and
> > > get commercial free tv.
> > > That didn't last too long.  I am due for a new
> car I
> > > will keep that in mind
> > > when ordering the stereo equipment on the car. 
> If
> > > it is removable, it will
> > > be a no brainer.  Bob
> > >
> > > >From: brad haslett <flybrad at yahoo.com>
> > > >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> > > <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > > >To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> > > >Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Radio - FM Recption -
> GPS
> > > Map
> > > >Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 05:27:36 -0700 (PDT)
> > > >
> > > >Am I the only one on a lake with almost no FM
> radio
> > > >available? Last Christmas I purchased an XM
> > > satellite
> > > >radio for CoraShen and it has turned out to be
> a
> > > >wonderfull investment.  Now I don't have to
> drag
> > > CD's
> > > >to the boat or listen to "swap shop" and the
> > > >obituaries on the local stations.  Both Sirrius
> and
> > > XM
> > > >get about 160+ stations and the reception is
> > > >outstanding.  The equipment is about $125 and
> the
> > > >service $10 per month.  I move the equipment to
> my
> > > car
> > > >when not on the boat.
> > > >
> > > >This experiment with dual use equipment has
> gotten
> > > me
> > > >started looking at portable GPS moving map
> > > displays.
> > > >The Garmin 176 looks interesting.  You can use
> it
> > > on
> > > >the boat and then in the car as well.  Anyone
> on
> > > the
> > > >list have experience with one?
> > > >
> > > >Brad Haslett
> > > >"CoraShen"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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