how can I assess distance in the air??
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Join Date: Feb 2004
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how can I assess distance in the air??
how can I assess distance in the air- flying a piper. Is there any rule, say if I look 45 degrees down, that will be 2 miles away???
Join Date: Mar 2002
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F2K,
If you look 45 deg down then the point you look at is the same horizontal distance from you as you are above the surface (flat surface).
However, more related to VFR flying.......you know where you are, you can see both your current position and the position you are looking at on your map.....measure the distance on the map.
With experience you will eye-ball it over short distances (up to 5nm). Practice when you fly.
regards,
DFC
If you look 45 deg down then the point you look at is the same horizontal distance from you as you are above the surface (flat surface).
However, more related to VFR flying.......you know where you are, you can see both your current position and the position you are looking at on your map.....measure the distance on the map.
With experience you will eye-ball it over short distances (up to 5nm). Practice when you fly.
regards,
DFC
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Have to agree with DFC. On any Nav Flight, pick a point you can see, measure with map and ruler, then practise estimating other points. You will be surprised how acurate you get after a while.
Once you have that sorted try and estimate your arrival times, ie 3min, 5 min etc. Once again a wee bit of practise, you will get very acurate !
If you discover any other way that works well, please let us know !
Once you have that sorted try and estimate your arrival times, ie 3min, 5 min etc. Once again a wee bit of practise, you will get very acurate !
If you discover any other way that works well, please let us know !
Why do it if it's not fun?
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Don't forget that things look very different from different heights.
If you spend most of your time at around 2000-3000', then the first time you head up to, say, 6000' you'll find not only that everything looks smaller (obvious, I know, but still worth pointing out!), but also that distances look smaller. What looks like just a couple of miles is likely to be closer to 10-15 miles.
FFF
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If you spend most of your time at around 2000-3000', then the first time you head up to, say, 6000' you'll find not only that everything looks smaller (obvious, I know, but still worth pointing out!), but also that distances look smaller. What looks like just a couple of miles is likely to be closer to 10-15 miles.
FFF
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