Map Reading
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Tapping the Decca, wondering why it's not working.
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I've heard it said that one of the tasks for the first tourist AEW Shackleton navs was to guide the aircraft to Rockall, at low level all the way without using the radar. With the introduction of satellite mapping and GPS it became evident that the rock had been misplaced on the chart, by the Royal Navy, by 5 miles. How on earth they ever found it remains a mystery.
Actually I have just remembered a little map story,many years ago my then GF was attempting silver distance (50km) in a glider but landed out at Bicester,she was not allowed to aerotow retrieve out of Bicester (lack of aerotow experience) so I hopped over there with the Tuggie and flew the glider back for her.
The map story is that there was a (Glider) CFI's meeting on at Bicester that day - at least one of the attendees decided to travel there by glider and got lost !! - he did not have a map in the cockpit with him and they were chatting with him on t'radio to try and identify his 'position' - how embarrasing was that - so glad it wasnae me
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My mistake of the day ? - saying to the tuggie ''I have a slight cold please don't climb too high'' - well we flew the whole way back at 800' AGL (no radio),I love low level in a jet but not in a glider LOL - very uncomfortable
The map story is that there was a (Glider) CFI's meeting on at Bicester that day - at least one of the attendees decided to travel there by glider and got lost !! - he did not have a map in the cockpit with him and they were chatting with him on t'radio to try and identify his 'position' - how embarrasing was that - so glad it wasnae me
.My mistake of the day ? - saying to the tuggie ''I have a slight cold please don't climb too high'' - well we flew the whole way back at 800' AGL (no radio),I love low level in a jet but not in a glider LOL - very uncomfortable
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I've heard it said that one of the tasks for the first tourist AEW Shackleton navs was to guide the aircraft to Rockall, at low level all the way without using the radar. With the introduction of satellite mapping and GPS it became evident that the rock had been misplaced on the chart, by the Royal Navy, by 5 miles. How on earth they ever found it remains a mystery.
Avoid imitations
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Depends partly on the map: sometimes it might be useful to know the names of villages.
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I doubt that there are many around now who could manage a Fix Monitored in Azimuth (FMA). It’s described in the last four paragraphs.
YS
YS
Doing Helicopter Crewman training in the late 60s, part of the final test was for the crewy to sit in the jump seat of the UH-1B and mapread on a 1:50 thou map to get us from one spot to a nominated spot. The one we chose was a place called Ant Hill. The crewy did a good job, flew us there and asked for an orbit.
Round we went. "Do another, please." Round we go again. "Another orbit please," he says. We ask him why we are orbiting.
"Because I am looking for an ant hill, and it must be f****g big, cause it's on the map!"
Round we went. "Do another, please." Round we go again. "Another orbit please," he says. We ask him why we are orbiting.
"Because I am looking for an ant hill, and it must be f****g big, cause it's on the map!"
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Thought police antagonist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Where I always have been...firmly in the real world
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As for maps, there was an aptly name former contributor on here whom I had the misfortune to meet. Our "hero " had visions of becoming a PPL and would tell anybody he encountered he was... a pilot !... as an aside, he managed to book himself onto a flight to GLA...intended destination ?....EDI.
He was firmly of the opinion, that, his former RAF instructors were out of touch and obsessed with maps when he had a handy little device that he simply followed. This may explain his proud boast about infringing the WAD zone one day when crossing Lincoln...VFR..the large ornate structure on the ground being " difficult to miss " you may reasonably think.
I declined his offers to fly with him being "otherwise engaged "...strangely, when such offers were made.
To the best of my knowledge he never fulfilled his ambition....which was a salvation for everybody else who flies.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Many years ago, on the mighty Wessex, the map went out the window. Moral; make sure the window is closed. Luckily a gaggle of three, therefore the immortal phrase; "Number two, you have the lead"
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Low level navex in a Hawk through Scotland on a bumpy day. Stude in front loses map down top of the cockpit coaming and starts to panic. I ask him to put the cockpit demist on. As he does so, his map is blown back into his lap, leaving him relieved and impressed!
Transitting a Tiger Moth was always fun with a half mil attached to the knee........unless you forgot under the pressures of unpleasant weather.
Somewhere under a hedge near Towcester might still lie a virtually brand new 1/50000 that I was relieved of one day returning to EGLM. Expensive business, open cockpits !
Somewhere under a hedge near Towcester might still lie a virtually brand new 1/50000 that I was relieved of one day returning to EGLM. Expensive business, open cockpits !
Mid December 0400 departure from winter trials detachment involved unplanned change from Sea King to Wessex and other crew's prepared route and maps. No time to check before take-off. Long story of enforced low-level (Wx and icing) , too low for Vortac, Low Countries seemingly featureless (apart from a 1064' TV mast 1/4 mile off plotted track !!!) ... sooooo "temporarily uncertain of position" ... Need to pass Schipol for destination, so insist skipper lands at small island sports field on the edge of the Zuiderzee. Confirm position and proceed , landing with fumes left in the tanks and a message to "report to Ops immediately Unplanned landing site was the Dutch Foot and mouth research establishment !! Much unhappiness from UK Min of Ag and Fish and crew will face 4 weeks isolation on UK return. Onward travel, next day complicated by unextinguishable engine fire indication in middle of Hook to Manston leg with precautionary landing on North Foreland and crew and aircraft vigorous hose-down by local Fire Crew !
Several morals there, probably, but "get home-itis" featured strongly (and unfortunately)
Several morals there, probably, but "get home-itis" featured strongly (and unfortunately)
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Join Date: Oct 2017
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Thank you Yellow Sun at post #48. That is a fascinating read on the V bomber Nav.
Several times in the 1960s I visited Lindholme as an ATC cadet and flew air experience on the Handley Page Hastings of RBS which had a nearly complete V Bomber kit installed in it, as several of you will remember. A 15 year old snot nosed kid from Doncaster was not considered an OPSEC concern so we were shown the full system whilst we radar bombed targets around Britain such as, I remember, "The North East Corner of the University Library of Aberystwyth." I was amazed at the target accuracy.
Meanwhile the Captain had a fist full of UK topographics in case the trainees down the back got him lost, which they never did.
In the spirit of the thread, in retirement flying my little Cessna with full Garmin, I still carry charts for the country.
Several times in the 1960s I visited Lindholme as an ATC cadet and flew air experience on the Handley Page Hastings of RBS which had a nearly complete V Bomber kit installed in it, as several of you will remember. A 15 year old snot nosed kid from Doncaster was not considered an OPSEC concern so we were shown the full system whilst we radar bombed targets around Britain such as, I remember, "The North East Corner of the University Library of Aberystwyth." I was amazed at the target accuracy.
Meanwhile the Captain had a fist full of UK topographics in case the trainees down the back got him lost, which they never did.
In the spirit of the thread, in retirement flying my little Cessna with full Garmin, I still carry charts for the country.
Secondary Target???
The garden size is ideal for an old f@rt. ............ small enough that any cries for help are heard, large and complicated enough that I don't need to trail muddy boots through the house to get to the bog. Behind one of the sheds I have a sign: GENTS. Totally hidden from anyone, including herself.
