Intrigued by the post about finding the carrier, I rang my friend, ex RN and a helicopter pilot.
"Ah yes" he says, "I know that one. It's simple".
"Plot your circle of uncertainty centred on where you think the carrier is. 25 miles radius would usually be right for a jet, 1 mile for a chopper.
Then, find out the wind direction and speed at 5,000 ft above the sea. Plot the point on the circle's circumference precisely upwind of the centre. Then fly round from that point, clockwise and observing inwards, at 5,000 ft in ever-decreasing circles until you find the carrier. Anything else you want to know?"
"How do I find out the wind direction and speed?"
"Call the bleedin' carrier, of course."
He's retired now. He once dropped my gun* into the sea - after converting to a Wessex - when some one said "What's the time?" and he answered "Eight Bells", whatever that means. He explained later that the hook release button was where the PTT used to be.
PS That's gun as in 105mm gun, not gun as in 9mm peashooter...
Last edited by Capot; 11th Jan 2010 at 16:48.