PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Pressure pattern navigation/Bellamy's drift
Old 7th March 2001 | 22:54
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StrateandLevel
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Used to do it on V bombers. The biggest problem is determination of the real height versus the altimeter height. We were blessed with a bombing computer and a very accurate Radar Altimeter. Thus we could accurately determine the Altimeter height error. At 27 ft = 1 mb you can determine the pressure gradient over a given distance. By using a geostrophic wind scale you can determine the wind and thence the drift. Can't remember the formula.

Good reference: AP3340 Handbook of Aviation Meteorology (1960). That covers the principles if not the method.