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Old 17th February 2002 | 03:13
  #5 (permalink)  
fobotcso
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,003
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From: Geriatrica, UK
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Is a simple, one-step, elecronic calculator as accurate as a "whizz-wheel" where you do an iterative solution to a triangle of velocities?

I used to use a spreadsheet which was accurate enough up to a wind speed of 20kts but, above that, the errors became significant.

I ended up feeling that a Dalton or Jeppersen "computer" was better because you could refine the solution through repeatedly reducing the errors whereas with an electronic calculator, unless it was programmable, you got a simple trigonometric solution to an initial set of values.

Anyway, the Dalton and Jepperson "computers" keep going when it is Effing cold and the batteries in the electronic calculators have long since packed up.
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