American Grid

[levo]

Hi all
It looks easyer to navigate in the USA as the country is coverd in a grid pattern of around 1 square mile? noticed it on a holiday flight especialy in the north . Have a look on Google or multimap areial image at about 5 miles to the inch.:ok:

[Gypsy_Air]

It can be easier, but in places it's actually more confusing, because instead of having just a few major roads to recognise, there are dozens of roads that all look the same.

[SASless]

Used to be a VFR map was a Texaco road map!

Now the VFR sectional is so cluttered you can hardly read the thing in some parts of the country.

The mid-west is simple....count the section lines east and west or north and south...and fly the short way to the long line and turn left or right as need be.

Generally the only variation in those roads is where a stream gets in the way or the surveyors made a correction for an error.

Water towers and train stations (the few stations left anyway) and for sure the Interstate (motorway) signs all work for locating yourself. The highway signs also show mileage....which is even better!

I made a couple of ferry flights from Deadhorse, Alaska to Louisana in a Hughes 500D with just a VFR Sectional and Mag Compass...all by IFR.

I followed roads, railroads, rivers, ravines, ridgelines.....:E