How big's your thumb?
How big's your thumb?
Why do it if it's not fun?
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 12
From: Bournemouth
Yep, that's about the same size as mine.
Also, if I stretch my hand out, the distance from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my little finger is about 60nm.
FFF
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Also, if I stretch my hand out, the distance from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my little finger is about 60nm.
FFF
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: Dorset, UK
Sexist bloody rule, that!
Anyhow, us women, have all been taught to tell you fellas that size really doesn't matter
High Flying Bird
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
From: Old Sarum ish
Thumb is 8nm and hand span is 55nm.
I quote:
Grim Reaper - "Mine's about ... ten ... Is that about average?
FFF - "Yep, that's about the same size as mine."
If something's the same as your's I would have said it definitely wasn't average.
In fact, if you look at the sizes given by the respondees so far, 7nm is more the average. (Nice to see a half 'n' half mix of chicks 'n' errr men for a change! )
I quote:
Grim Reaper - "Mine's about ... ten ... Is that about average?
FFF - "Yep, that's about the same size as mine."
If something's the same as your's I would have said it definitely wasn't average.In fact, if you look at the sizes given by the respondees so far, 7nm is more the average. (Nice to see a half 'n' half mix of chicks 'n' errr men for a change!
)
Why do it if it's not fun?
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 12
From: Bournemouth
AerBabe,
Not sure whether that was intended as a compliment or not 
but I'll take it as a compliment anyway 
(For what it's worth, my instructor told me that my thumb would probably be 10nm, and my hand-span 60nm, since that's what most of his students' were, and he was spot on. But then most of his students were male...)
FFF
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FFF... If something's the same as your's I would have said it definitely wasn't average.
but I'll take it as a compliment anyway (For what it's worth, my instructor told me that my thumb would probably be 10nm, and my hand-span 60nm, since that's what most of his students' were, and he was spot on. But then most of his students were male...)
FFF
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: on your left, a little low.....
Bigger thumbs = harder maths
Half thumb = 12nm
hand span = 72nm
which is a bit of a b@llzup because my maths is shakey(?) at the best of times....
still... until now, I thought my thumb was average...
oh well...
hand span = 72nm
which is a bit of a b@llzup because my maths is shakey(?) at the best of times....
still... until now, I thought my thumb was average...
oh well...
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From: Kent
I was amazed the other day as estimates weren't that accurate when checked, as I'd been using a thumb's length as 8nm which is what it was when I started doin me own PLOGs and seriously getting involved with nav. So I checked, and my thumb's now 9.5nm to be very precise! So 10nm
tKF
tKF
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: Dorset, UK
Just checked against a rule:-
Top of thumb 7.5nm
Hand width at full stretch only 50nm
Anyhow, the other PPLs that I fly with, are always complaining when I am navigating for them, using "rule of thumb" ...
They ask me: "how far is it to xxxx"
I reply: "approximately two & a half thumbs"
So perhaps I should just use the dear old 50nm AERAD plotter, that slots nicely into the back of the kneeboard.
Top of thumb 7.5nm
Hand width at full stretch only 50nm
Anyhow, the other PPLs that I fly with, are always complaining when I am navigating for them, using "rule of thumb" ...
They ask me: "how far is it to xxxx"
I reply: "approximately two & a half thumbs"
So perhaps I should just use the dear old 50nm AERAD plotter, that slots nicely into the back of the kneeboard.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
From: Dorset
EI_Sparks - I think that you've maybe got the wrong idea there (or *very* big thumbs ) , as it seems significanlty bigger than everyone else's.
The measurement is normally just for the top portion of the thumb, from the knuckle to the tip. Makes a good 'rule of thumb guesstimator' for chart distances in flight when your nav ruler's in your kit in the rear footwell / in the baggage compartment. I usually manage to measure accurately enough to give FIR operators / Approach Controllers time estimates overhead waypoints to within a minute, which usually impresses pasengers
CB (a relatively average 8nm)
) , as it seems significanlty bigger than everyone else's.The measurement is normally just for the top portion of the thumb, from the knuckle to the tip. Makes a good 'rule of thumb guesstimator' for chart distances in flight when your nav ruler's in your kit in the rear footwell / in the baggage compartment. I usually manage to measure accurately enough to give FIR operators / Approach Controllers time estimates overhead waypoints to within a minute, which usually impresses pasengers
CB (a relatively average 8nm)
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Greystones, Ireland (but born a Kerryman!)
CB,
Ah! Right. *struggles with ruler* Dammit.....
Okay, approximately 10nm, but it's not that convienent to measure for me (carpenter's thumb) so I normally use the web to the tip.
Ah! Right. *struggles with ruler* Dammit.....
Okay, approximately 10nm, but it's not that convienent to measure for me (carpenter's thumb) so I normally use the web to the tip.
