who continues to use their whizz wheel?
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who continues to use their whizz wheel?
How many post PPL pilots continue to use their slide rule to plan trips? Or do MOST just simply purchase a GPS as soon as their licence arrives?
I'm reluctant to start using one just yet and want to complete some decent trips using the methods shown during the PPL, this will also have benefits when I come to do a CPL.
But I was just wondering, are people who dont use GPS really that far in the minority these days, almost a ratio of 1:10?
I'm reluctant to start using one just yet and want to complete some decent trips using the methods shown during the PPL, this will also have benefits when I come to do a CPL.
But I was just wondering, are people who dont use GPS really that far in the minority these days, almost a ratio of 1:10?
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Last time I used mine was on the IMCR nav exam (mandatory).
A piece of crap and a total waste of time which would be better spent learning any of fifty more important things.
I should add that I was using a real slide rule at school at the age of 10, in the 1960s, behind what is called the Iron Curtain, so I do know how it works
A piece of crap and a total waste of time which would be better spent learning any of fifty more important things.
I should add that I was using a real slide rule at school at the age of 10, in the 1960s, behind what is called the Iron Curtain, so I do know how it works
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Last time I used mine was CPL exams, time before that was PPL exams. Never used between and never used since.
Complete and utter waste of space and should be consigned to the dustbin of history.
Complete and utter waste of space and should be consigned to the dustbin of history.
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I flew from Shoreham to Biggin Hill last and back last Saturday. Did all my planning with my map, PLOG, and trusty CRP-1. Having said that, it's mainly because I haven't bought a GPS yet 
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Surely if you use a handheld GPS, you still need to work out adjusted headings. I dont see a GPS as a replacement - I have been playing with a variety of PC based flight planning tools, but would expect to double check with the whizz wheel - after all they are fairly simple to use.
I gained my PPL in 1964 and I am still an active commercial pilot flying heavy metal at age 63+. I have aways remained current on light tin and plastic M/SEP and find it disturbing to note some of the posts in this thread.
A drift towards reliance on GPS, without the appreciation of the effect that wind will have on your flight management can only be detrimental to air safety, in terms of situational awareness and flight endurance. A few minutes spent twiddling a 'whizz wheel' can give you a broad appreciation of the fluid environment that you are going to be flying in. There is no substitute for keeping a basic awareness of track and groundspeed and relating that to what you want to achieve and what you see. A GPS failure in low visibility will soon show you the value of map and compass navigation, backed up by pre-prepared, if basic, track/GS information . Perhaps it is unsurprising that infringements of controlled airspace are increasing if pilots are relying on GPS with no basic nav skill back up. Question: Are you getting to the stage where getting airborne and finding your GPS has failed means aborting the flight?
A drift towards reliance on GPS, without the appreciation of the effect that wind will have on your flight management can only be detrimental to air safety, in terms of situational awareness and flight endurance. A few minutes spent twiddling a 'whizz wheel' can give you a broad appreciation of the fluid environment that you are going to be flying in. There is no substitute for keeping a basic awareness of track and groundspeed and relating that to what you want to achieve and what you see. A GPS failure in low visibility will soon show you the value of map and compass navigation, backed up by pre-prepared, if basic, track/GS information . Perhaps it is unsurprising that infringements of controlled airspace are increasing if pilots are relying on GPS with no basic nav skill back up. Question: Are you getting to the stage where getting airborne and finding your GPS has failed means aborting the flight?
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I don't find myself doing a lot calcuations for most of the flying I do, though when I do, I reach for the whizz wheel first. It always works, and is quick. If you get a wrong answer, it's pretty easy to see where you put in the wrong question!
It was pretty handy the other week for some TAS corrections, and other performance calculations for the King Air I'd been evaluating.
It was pretty handy the other week for some TAS corrections, and other performance calculations for the King Air I'd been evaluating.
I still use my Jepp CR5 (CR5 is the smallest one) after well over 25 years in things from piston singles to turboprops. With modern avionics I find I use it less but there are still some things I can calculate more quickly with it than by twiddling knobs & pushing buttons. Try calculating PNR or Crit Point with a GPS. Damned if I've figured out how to but my whiz wheel does it easily. Flying air ambulance over the N.Sea I used to have to do those calcs regularly. With my CR I could also use off-track DMEs to find along-track groundspeed - quite useful when out of range of on-track DMEs.
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I do not use the wheel or GPS. Just a line on the chart with waypoints, true headings and wind direction.
I know I'll do 1.4 Nm/min, burn 20 l/hr.
Not real rocket sience.
I know I'll do 1.4 Nm/min, burn 20 l/hr.
Not real rocket sience.
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Just bought a gps but I still plog and draw lines on the chart, and use the old wheel thingy.
I'd hate to be out and about if/when the gps goes blank for whatever reason.
That said, gps is wonderful, provided that you understand it's potential shortcomings.
I'd hate to be out and about if/when the gps goes blank for whatever reason.
That said, gps is wonderful, provided that you understand it's potential shortcomings.
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No one was suggesting a reliance on GPS. There is no place for a slide rule in modern aviation other than in the minds of the old farts who have some romantic attachment to a long gone age.
There are plenty of modern tools that will do the job much better, much more accurately and much faster. The CX2 is an example of a dedicated electronic tool. I have a couple of apps on my iPhone that do the job perfectly.
Don't anyone give me the tosh about running out of batteries, its crap in this day and age. Show me someone who can claim to hand fly and use a CRP at the same time and I will show you a liar.
When I fly VFR I use a chart with the lines and the wind drawn on it and a GPS. I use my iPhone app to do the wind correction and write that on the chart. I then use a blend of GPS and visual navigation to make sure I am in the right place. I have yet to be unsure of position in my private or commercial careers.
There are plenty of modern tools that will do the job much better, much more accurately and much faster. The CX2 is an example of a dedicated electronic tool. I have a couple of apps on my iPhone that do the job perfectly.
Don't anyone give me the tosh about running out of batteries, its crap in this day and age. Show me someone who can claim to hand fly and use a CRP at the same time and I will show you a liar.
When I fly VFR I use a chart with the lines and the wind drawn on it and a GPS. I use my iPhone app to do the wind correction and write that on the chart. I then use a blend of GPS and visual navigation to make sure I am in the right place. I have yet to be unsure of position in my private or commercial careers.
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Speaking of electronic tools - I also use Pilotwizz on my iPhone which is fantastically useful. I don't think I've ever really needed to do whiz wheel calculations in flight though, I can imagine it to be a bit tricky as I've only got two hands.
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This works for me flight calculator