Rules Of Thumb

[vneandbeyond]

This thread is a chance for all the experienced pilots out there to share their wisdom.

Ie 6 degree lead for 90 degree turn to intercept VOR when doing 120kts, 10 precent of groundspeed to turn onto an arc etc etc.

Bring on the tips.

[Mr.Buzzy]

Gday all,
do a search of "Thumb rules" There has been a thread on this, from memory, some handy info was posted too.

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[tinpis]

Chook cooked in an oven bag is much nicer
Cook for one hour at 180C

[EngineOut]

try this website:

http://www.flightinfo.com/rulesofthumb.asp

[mattyj]

Isn't it 1% of ground speed joining the arc vne?

[psycho joe]

CFIT.....don't do it....It's bad for the engines.

:ugh:

[cjam]

When faced with a forced landing and there is no handy smoke to judge the wind direction.....look for some cows, they always face into wind.

[NAMPS]

"It's much better to be down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing you were down here"

[vneandbeyond]

Mattyj, 1 percent is correct - whoops!

Half your groundspeed as a decimal also works well ie Doing 140kts 140/2 = 70 which becomes 0.7 so begin turning onto a 10 mile arc at 10.7 DME. Gets less accurate with increased speed.

Cheers.

[Onewordanswer]

Using other clues to find the wind
Seagulls stand facing into the wind, and, supposedly, cows always point their behinds into the wind :rolleyes:Cows, when they are standing or resting, usually face away from the wind,especially if it is raining or snowing, to minimize getting their faces wet and cold. (When they graze, they prefer facing into the wind, as the breeze aims the tops of the grass towards them, although they often graze in a random pattern).

[Night Watch]

If you stand perpendicular to the wind and take a piss..... every one foot of deflection = 10 knots of wind.

[McRippy]

Once a month let the spare pilot fly your plane so you can blame him for any **** thats wrong with it

[Jawz]

"rule of thumb" goes back to the turn of the 19th century when a husband was leagaly allowed to beat his own wife with a stick no greater in width, than his own thumb.

Go figure

[Old Smokey]

When you're over the ocean at night and want to know the swell direction for a possible ditching, tilt the radar down until a 'banana shaped' fuzzy return is indicated. That 'banana' is approximately the orientation of the swell, as the face / back of the swell is the most radar reflective part of the swell.

Regards,

Old Smokey

[shortandsmelly]

So whaddawedo if we don't have radar, then???:}

[Runaway Gun]

But seriously, what orientation should your banana be bent towards?

[cjam]

Night watch.....is your rule of thumb for wind speed gender specific or can all pilots use it?

[Ultralights]

the amount of flap you should use is the same angle as the windsock. nill wind-full flap, blowing a gale-no flap, and all in between.

[Stiff Under Carriage]

mattyj and vne,

Its not 10% nor 1%, however the example that you give using 140kts is correct, that makes it 0.5%.

Ie, With 140kt groundspeed 0.5% would be 0.7 DME, hence your lead distance for the arc. This works regardless of the angle of intercept. If your approaching the arc at an oblique angle your groundspeed will be less hence the lead in distance is less. Becareful the groundspeed has to be read off the DME not a GPS.

Hope this helps.