View Poll Results: What is your prefered tool for VFR navigation
Whiz wheel
60
51.28%
Electronic Flight Computer
8
6.84%
Navaids - VORs and NDBs
14
11.97%
GPS
24
20.51%
Don't need any - I know where I am going
11
9.40%
Voters: 117. This poll is closed
Who still uses a whiz wheel?
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Whizz wheel
Nah, haven't used it for ten years: I use an electronic flight calculator (fairly basic asa model) both on ground and (rarely) inthe air: I keep a set of spare batteries in my flight bag.
But with multiple systems redundancy in the form of GPS x 2 I can't recall last time I used flight computer in the air.
Whizzy wheel is a charming anachronisn akin to the slide rule and log tables (remember them?)
About time the CAA dumped the whizzyy wheel: The Americans have allowed certain flight computers into exams for years.
But with multiple systems redundancy in the form of GPS x 2 I can't recall last time I used flight computer in the air.
Whizzy wheel is a charming anachronisn akin to the slide rule and log tables (remember them?)
About time the CAA dumped the whizzyy wheel: The Americans have allowed certain flight computers into exams for years.
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Cusco, the way I see it:
Piper Arrow is to Piper Cub, as
Electronic flight computer is to Whizzwheel...
In other words, we should get 'hands on' once in a while and become more like our feathered counterparts
Piper Arrow is to Piper Cub, as
Electronic flight computer is to Whizzwheel...
In other words, we should get 'hands on' once in a while and become more like our feathered counterparts
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I was using a CRP-1 for years.
Then I was going to upgrade myself to an electronic version but ATPL exams got in the way so had to "upgrade" to a CRP-5 version.
Didn't realise how much can be done with the CRP-5, but I wouldn't be without my calculator for some of the calculations (such as density altitude calculations etc).
Wouldn't be without my trusty CRP-5 at the moment...
... unless the CAA decide to give into the requirement and allow electronic versions instead. If they do that after my last exam, well I'm not going to be a happy bunny!
Best wishes,
Charlie Zulu.
Then I was going to upgrade myself to an electronic version but ATPL exams got in the way so had to "upgrade" to a CRP-5 version.
Didn't realise how much can be done with the CRP-5, but I wouldn't be without my calculator for some of the calculations (such as density altitude calculations etc).
Wouldn't be without my trusty CRP-5 at the moment...
... unless the CAA decide to give into the requirement and allow electronic versions instead. If they do that after my last exam, well I'm not going to be a happy bunny!
Best wishes,
Charlie Zulu.
I used to be pretty good with the old E6B. I was particularly proud of fiquring the wind triangle backwards so I could provide winds aloft with my PIREPS. Then all the airplanes I flew got fitted with GPS and all the flight planning rooms got computer flight planning software so I have not touched it in years. It is still in my flight bag though, its rigid plastic case makes a nice divider ....and for the day when all the electrons go on strike 
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Like everyone else on this thread, after getting the PPL, I developed my own methods of navigation.
When computers came along, in our business(work not flying) we could hardly wait. The stuff we were going to be able to do in the twinkling of an eye. They did the job quite well and a few extra things as well, but only if you were standing there and nursing them along. The problem with these things is that you can’t repair them yourself when they go wrong. You’re not even allowed to try. The innards are all hidden behind plastic or aluminium casings. Off it goes to a specialised repair shop or factory.
Whenever a new bit of electronic equipment arrives, I, after my experiences of the last 20 yrs, am filled with foreboding. It might last 6mths or ten years, you just don’t know.
So what do you want? Reliable simplicity that you can repair yourself, or a device that performs many functions (many of which you don’t want or will ever use) with blinding speed (unnecessary) and accuracy (again unnecessary for aircraft navigation).
Do we want everything done for us as pilots? 3-d terrain mapping is on the way. At this rate there will hardly be anything to do. And early examples of pilot-less aircraft are pointing the way forward. Even in the day of the automobile people still ride horses. An incredibly arduous way of getting from A to B but they enjoy it.
Perhaps in the not too distant future piloting light planes will be seen as a legacy of the past and the use of electronic aids will be frowned on as being incompatible with the spirit of the age. This happens already where GPS is banned in navigation competitions and is still not permitted in PPL training.
The whiz wheel is a clever bit of kit, but it is weak when it comes to use in the air, wind vectors groundspeed and headings are not easy to read off the small scale, and manipulate. So I designed some kit to overcome that difficulty. To be found at Navok.co.uk or click on the www at the top of this post. This may be of interest to those, like me, who are less than enchanted at the great no-brainer, non-repairable electronic future that lies ahead.
Ps the CX2 sounds better than average if still going after 2yrs, but if battery powered, that goes against my rules. At one time, I couldn’t go anywhere without buying batteries for the GPS. There were batteries everywhere, just in case. No more! Enough !
When computers came along, in our business(work not flying) we could hardly wait. The stuff we were going to be able to do in the twinkling of an eye. They did the job quite well and a few extra things as well, but only if you were standing there and nursing them along. The problem with these things is that you can’t repair them yourself when they go wrong. You’re not even allowed to try. The innards are all hidden behind plastic or aluminium casings. Off it goes to a specialised repair shop or factory.
Whenever a new bit of electronic equipment arrives, I, after my experiences of the last 20 yrs, am filled with foreboding. It might last 6mths or ten years, you just don’t know.
So what do you want? Reliable simplicity that you can repair yourself, or a device that performs many functions (many of which you don’t want or will ever use) with blinding speed (unnecessary) and accuracy (again unnecessary for aircraft navigation).
Do we want everything done for us as pilots? 3-d terrain mapping is on the way. At this rate there will hardly be anything to do. And early examples of pilot-less aircraft are pointing the way forward. Even in the day of the automobile people still ride horses. An incredibly arduous way of getting from A to B but they enjoy it.
Perhaps in the not too distant future piloting light planes will be seen as a legacy of the past and the use of electronic aids will be frowned on as being incompatible with the spirit of the age. This happens already where GPS is banned in navigation competitions and is still not permitted in PPL training.
The whiz wheel is a clever bit of kit, but it is weak when it comes to use in the air, wind vectors groundspeed and headings are not easy to read off the small scale, and manipulate. So I designed some kit to overcome that difficulty. To be found at Navok.co.uk or click on the www at the top of this post. This may be of interest to those, like me, who are less than enchanted at the great no-brainer, non-repairable electronic future that lies ahead.
Ps the CX2 sounds better than average if still going after 2yrs, but if battery powered, that goes against my rules. At one time, I couldn’t go anywhere without buying batteries for the GPS. There were batteries everywhere, just in case. No more! Enough !
Last edited by The Trolls' Troll; 1st Sep 2004 at 22:33.
AWL, from a quick peruse of your site, your method seems very similar to how a Jepp CR type whiz wheel works** - but without the many additional functions.
My CR5 is nearly always with me when I fly *and* I have slide rule on my watch. A whiz wheel has lots of functions useful in flight as well as on the ground that are quicker to do than electronically eg (non aviation, but illustrates the point) my watch is a damn sight quicker to use when I'm travelling & want a ready reckoner for currency conversion. I set the local exchange rate & can directly read the equivalent currency around the dial. A **LOT** quicker & easier than having to carry an extra calculator.
In flight I still have use for my CR that are difficult or impossible to do with an electronic version.
**Further perusal: I've changed my mind. It's a form of E6B ie slide type whiz wheel.
My CR5 is nearly always with me when I fly *and* I have slide rule on my watch. A whiz wheel has lots of functions useful in flight as well as on the ground that are quicker to do than electronically eg (non aviation, but illustrates the point) my watch is a damn sight quicker to use when I'm travelling & want a ready reckoner for currency conversion. I set the local exchange rate & can directly read the equivalent currency around the dial. A **LOT** quicker & easier than having to carry an extra calculator.
In flight I still have use for my CR that are difficult or impossible to do with an electronic version.
**Further perusal: I've changed my mind. It's a form of E6B ie slide type whiz wheel.
Last edited by Tinstaafl; 1st Sep 2004 at 03:08.
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wizz wheel
A while ago I was given a WWII type wiz wheel. Basics are a bakerlite base that straps to your leg, elastic clips and band, what looks like a stainless steel top, maybe alloy, with all the components on it, open that up off the base and inside is a small note book with course speed and direction coloums. Imposed in the base is a rollerblind system under the semicircle grids for working out speed and course direction. Still had a WD pencil in it.Works just as well and accurate as the Jeppesen wiz&slide. I find both are prone to opperator trouble.
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Thanks for your comments Tinstaffl,
True , the navok set-up doesn't do the other calcs on an E6b or
whizz-wheel, but it does measure bearings and distances on the map, which the latter don't do. That means that you don't have to stick to the original flight plan. You've always got to hand the information you need to make a change for whatever reason---
Wind vector , bearing and distance.
Flexible navigation on the hoof. It gave me a lot more confidence as a VFR pilot with dodging poor weather.
True , the navok set-up doesn't do the other calcs on an E6b or
whizz-wheel, but it does measure bearings and distances on the map, which the latter don't do. That means that you don't have to stick to the original flight plan. You've always got to hand the information you need to make a change for whatever reason---
Wind vector , bearing and distance.
Flexible navigation on the hoof. It gave me a lot more confidence as a VFR pilot with dodging poor weather.
Cut & Paste Intellectual
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I always found the whiz wheel easy to use on the ground but very cumbersome and difficult to manipulate when flying.
I just wish they made a smaller version.
The charming assistant was always reluctant to leap into the skies with me as well. Perhaps she had no confidence?
I just wish they made a smaller version.
The charming assistant was always reluctant to leap into the skies with me as well. Perhaps she had no confidence?
