DR Computer (Remember that?) - Help wanted
Once that new-fangled GPS came out, I thought the purpose of the astro-nav sextant on the nimrod was to allow bored AEOps to covertly apply black shoe-polish to the baby Nav's eye-socket. Kept the intercom busy for hours afterwards - "nav, think you should re-do that shot using the other eye to correct for 'sight-handedness'" etc etc. 
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My AP3456 Vol 7 AL 7 (last updated about 2005) still had Part 3 as astro navigation. GOAT does not seem to feature in said manual. MOO and MOB do.
Out of general interest, does anyone have a piccie of the slide this thread refers to, that they can post??- looks like the original one is gone. THX
Out of general interest, does anyone have a piccie of the slide this thread refers to, that they can post??- looks like the original one is gone. THX
Out of general interest, does anyone have a piccie of the slide this thread refers to, that they can post??- looks like the original one is gone. THX
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I don't know how many hours work Mears did for me 
Pre-flight show time for an astro sortie was about 4 hours. The plotter pouring over his mystical tables compiling reams of pre-computed astro shots only, after a tech delay, to start over again.
Followed by more time double checking his work.
Then in the air doing a 5-shot (if you were lucky) or 7 if he was really trying, followed by more double checking his maths and mears all to end up with an idea of where you might have been 15 minutes before.
Pre-flight show time for an astro sortie was about 4 hours. The plotter pouring over his mystical tables compiling reams of pre-computed astro shots only, after a tech delay, to start over again.
Followed by more time double checking his work.
Then in the air doing a 5-shot (if you were lucky) or 7 if he was really trying, followed by more double checking his maths and mears all to end up with an idea of where you might have been 15 minutes before.
..to end up with an idea of where you might have been 15 minutes before.
I only experienced astro at Finningley but it worked well enough for me.
It was very satisfying when it all worked out. I was always thankful that I never had to re-compute in the air though..
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THANKS
I was an air transport 3-star fix navigator throughout and only encountered the Mears Slide on academic courses such as the Staff Nav and Aerosystems but I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to W A Mears for his contribution to our 'art' and for his input here (Post 20). A long and happy retirement Sir!
Jerry, my memories of those days are that mates who were on 44(Rhodesia) after Wally left used to refer to their new boss as "That bloke who sits in Wally's office".
Not as popular as Wally would be an understatement!
He was also known as 'Husband of OC 44' after his wife's highly unwelcome interest in squadron aicrews' lives......
Hope all's well with you these days? Are you going to next year's V-force reunion at Newark Air Museum?
Not as popular as Wally would be an understatement!
He was also known as 'Husband of OC 44' after his wife's highly unwelcome interest in squadron aicrews' lives......
Hope all's well with you these days? Are you going to next year's V-force reunion at Newark Air Museum?
Last edited by BEagle; 22nd Jun 2013 at 11:55.
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130Ks 'lost' their sextant in the late 90s, I seem to recall.
T'was always rather satisfying getting a good astro fix, along with a game of 'find the fish'...
T'was always rather satisfying getting a good astro fix, along with a game of 'find the fish'...
