Navigation Starter Kit - What to Buy?

[Guest basscheffers]

So in a month or two I'll probably start navs, though I might as well start them on the sofa right now!

 

From the books, I can find the bare minimum needed, but what would you recommend I order from the Olde Shoppe on this site? Anything non-standard you find useful? Any particular versions of protractors, computers, kneeboards, etc. you prefer?

 

Cheers,

 

Bas.

 

 

[Ultralights]

get the biggest whiz wheel you can. it will make calculations a bit easier, and your results will be more accurate. though keep in mind, it still has to be small enough to use in flight.

 

 

[Admin]

Personally I would only go for a standard ATC protractor, standard ATC 180nm ruler and a just a wheel. Oh, don't forget your ERSA and WAC/VNC maps - the maps needed are just for your area at this stage.

 

With the wheels there has always been debate which is better but you really only have a choice between the plastic Jeppessen CR2 (or 3 - different sizes) or the E6B which is metal.

 

Don't let anyone tell you need anything more as it would just be a luxury - feel your way first and always consult your instructor and what things he says you need - if he says you need more then what I have said above then ask back here. There was a story where one guy had to spend $600 or so because he was told to.

 

 

[Ultralights]

what Ian said, just a whiz wheel, protractor, and rule, and of course, current charts and ERSA. oh, and you can also cheat a little by downloading the current ERSA pages from the Airservices website free of charge, which is handy if the new ERSA update is a month or so away.

 

 

[Admin]

what Ian said, just a whiz wheel, protractor, and rule, and of course, current charts and ERSA. oh, and you can also cheat a little by downloading the current ERSA pages from the Airservices website free of charge, which is handy if the new ERSA update is a month or so away.

Let's stay legal though - isn't it a requirement that you have have a complete ERSA in the cabin with you at all times even though you may onbly be using one small area i_dunno

[Thx1137]

I am no-where near my cross countries IRL yet but I have a the whole kit and have started doing navs in FSX.

 

I wouldn't bother with the "student' version of the E6B whiz wheel. They are only a little cheaper and I find it a little difficult to use accurately with one hand and mine has a little play to the left and right which makes my numbers up to 2 knots out.

 

I am currently using the E6B but my CR3 should arrive today. I like the idea of not having a slide and the CR3s face is bigger to make it easier for my poor old eyes :-)

 

Steven.

 

 

[Guest basscheffers]

Thanks for your answers everyone! I'll check with the school which wheel they would like me to use and place my order. I already have the VNC, VTC and WACs for Adelaide - bit out of date but good enough for now. I also did find the online ERSA.

 

I guess it makes sense you need to have the whole one in the cockpit at all times - who knows when it might happen that you are flying to Parafield to Aldinga and have to divert to Moorabin!

 

I could simply cache all the PDFs on my iPhone, would that be legal? Probably not, but are there any legal "electronic flight bag" solutions for Australia, like they have for the US?

 

As for flight planners - I can't see me spending anything on them until I get to the point where I am rich, retired and do enough flying to warrant it! ;-) There are also some (cheaply) available for the iPhone, so I might check those out at some point too.

 

Thanks again for all the advice!

 

Bas.

 

 

[Thx1137]

I have a few of the IPhone apps on my IPod touch. Copilot is a great little flight planner. It is important to properly and fully configure your aircraft in it though. The CG graphing on it is great. It doesn't have much in the way of E6B functionality though.

 

The other app I tend to use is called Flightplan which is what I use to check my whiz wheel calculations and misc conversions.

 

With the ERSA. I only like that and maps on paper. A friend of mine says he has copies of the ERSA pages he might need with his maps but he will have the whole book tucked behind a passenger seat but within easy reach. I would hate to try zooming in on the PDF while flying, especially looking up the EMERG section! :-)

 

As far as legal goes. for ERSA, as long as the pages are current I don't believe it is an issue. For EFBs, I know we aren't allowed to use non-approved navigation equipment as the primary means but we can use them as secondary. From my reading anyway!

 

Steven.

 

 

[Admin]

Along with the free flight planner that is available for all to use on this site we will also create an Excel file version that will include google earth links to the airfields and much more for you to use.

 

It will be free in the interest of supporting all Recreational Pilots and the Recreational Flying industry which is what this site is all about - everyone here helping each other in any way they can. So as it is being developed I will create a thread where you can all become the testers and even joint developers if you have any knowledge in Excel and VBA - I prefer VBA instead of Macros as it is far more powerful.

 

I also have the MS Access runtime file distribution licence so once we finish with the Excel version we can then look into expanding it further in Access for everyone to use.

 

 

[Admin]

I had uploaded a file by Tezza (Terry Mann) who uses the resources of this site for himself but has asked that it be removed as obviously he does not wish to contribute a resource to you all from Recreational Flying.

 

I now also know that he supports a guy that set up a site and then openly stated on other sites that his intent was for his site to try and pull this site down - it seems like this has been a big setup by them so they can now go and get lost and no doubt they will try and discredit this site yet again - I am really getting sick of these people

 

 

[Thx1137]

Well. The file in question has no distribution or other limitations in the About section that I saw so it is entirely reasonable to think the file is public and without limitation.

 

Steven.

 

 

[Guest basscheffers]

To be honest, Ian, I think the fact that you deleted his post, edited mine to take away all references to him and only then proceeded to upload the file yourself might have something to do with the fact he wasn't entirely happy about it...

 

You have clear rules on this forums about what is allowed and what is not and what might get moderated. Someone offering to send a spreadsheet they made is not on that list.

 

 

[Admin]

basscheffers - there was more to it then that especially from my point of view being the fact that he is supporting one of the guys that tried to and are still trying to bring this site down - the cost would simply be to you all as I would just close this site and take a holiday but we know that 2,600+ users would lose out because of these few so and so's - I mean, think about it, if you are a member of this site and use its resources, get help from all the information here, benefit from all the work that is done here to provide you a great resource and much more, but you are not willing to help out everyone here by allowing a spreadsheet that you created to be downloaded from here - in fact the only place you can download it is from the site that is run by one of the people who is trying to bring these forums down and guess who's name and site address is in the file - you guessed it, again the person who openly said on another site that he just wants to bring Recreational Flying down - that should say it all - it has all the makings of a setup.

 

No time for these people and don't care about them or anyone else who wants to support them, and to those that do support them I simply say don't come here and use the resources of this site and benefit from all the hard work that is put in here - better to have 1,600 users who care then an 1,000 more that don't.

 

Creating and running the Recreational Flying site for you all has made me hard and I wish I could just go flying again and leave all this crap to others.

 

Perhaps it is time for another one of my breaks again - this time a long one

 

THX1137 - that's what I thought - it had no distribution or limitations in it, nothing to say it couldn't be put here but after I did I thought I had better just check so I tried phoning him a few times. Eventually got hold of him and he said no and had made a post here so I deleted his post and deleted the file from the download section - crikey, I thought we were just on about helping each other here but it seems some people want to just take but not give

 

 

[robinsm]

Ian, I for one think that this is a very valuable resource and anyone trying to bring it down obviously does not have the interests of the majority in mind. Small minded people suck. Nil Carborundum!!! (don't let the bastards grind you down).

 

This is Ians site, how he edits it is his business and his business only. If you don't like it, don't read it. I think this site is one of the most valuable for the hobby around.

 

I'm sick of being diplomatic

 

Maynard

 

 

[Admin]

- you've brightened up my day Maynard

 

 

[Adrian Lewer]

Nav x

 

Hi Baz, in my opinion after just doing my Nav's you will need the following,

 

1. ERSA this is great as you plann the flight and mark on a piece of paper or even have the page open so when at one zero miles to the aerodrome you know what the Freq is, aerodrome elevation ect, (any right hand ccts) ECT... the best piece of info in flight, has different info and if you get a diversion (which are piss easy) you just look up the new airport and find out the info on it.

 

2. Wizz Wheel obviouse why you need this, calculate flight times, fuel, ect and my advice is to you keep the little red book that comes with the wizz wheel with you in your flight bag. remember if you forget how to use in flight you can quickly pull the book out and have a look (the instructor is not concerned that you had to look at the book but the fact you had the book and got your self out of the poop remember its about how well you manage the situation and getting there you are judged on not how you do it) but no gps...:)

 

3. Ruler which measures VNC,WAC,VTC.

 

4. Charts,

 

VNC, which is used to plan most local flights,

 

WAC, which is not as detailed but will be needed if the VNC does not cover the area you are flying over.

 

ERC L1 & L2, (L1 & L2 depending on area these are for melb) these are for calculating distance and (now i am not sure magnettic or true) headding between different places BUT is not to scale, alot of lines on this one but realy a great tool.

 

PCA, dont know why i got this one ? looks like some sort of map for who to report to in case of an emergency ?

 

VTC, this is a more detailed map for the centre of a particular city or area. much better for Nav if you are going over port philip bay down to tooradin and back across the bay to point cook ect.

 

you may not need all of this for where you fly but i feel these are the basics to learn to use. makes a flight plan easier in my opinion.

 

i got lost on my first solo nav due to equipment failure, but was able to re find myself and complete the next two legs of my trip all on time as well, all because i had all equipment with me and knew how to use every piece of equipment that the aircraft had to offer.

 

 

[Adrian Lewer]

oh yeah i forgot to add, IAN, if you close this fantastic site down i will poke you in the eyes :black_eye: don't sucumb to the crap.

 

 

[BigPete]

Take hold of that Wizz Wheel and make it your best friend :heart: - when you're sitting in your favourite chair AT HOME. :thumb_up: Practise, practise and practise. Get to know it well.

 

Looking for instructions on how to use it while everything is going pear shaped in the cockpit, :yuk: is not good for accuracy or stress levels (nor will it impress your instructor).

 

regards

 

:big_grin::big_grin:

 

 

[Guest airsick]

Let's stay legal though - isn't it a requirement that you have have a complete ERSA in the cabin with you at all times even though you may onbly be using one small area i_dunno

The AIPs (ENR 1.10) state:

 

Pilots are required to carry, and have readily accessible in the aircraft, the latest editions of the aeronautical maps, charts and other aeronautical information and instructions, published:

 

a. in AIP, or

 

b. by an organisation approved by CASA, that are applicable to the route to be flown, and any alternative route that may be flown, on that flight (CAR 233).

 

So no, it is not necessary to carry the whole thing.