Elusive Magnetic North

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HAPPYDAN
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Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:49 am

Elusive Magnetic North

Post by HAPPYDAN »

Here's an article sure to make all aviators sit up and take notice:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... rds-russia
Thank technology for GPS.
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MrMorden
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Re: Elusive Magnetic North

Post by MrMorden »

Since it's not 1940, I doubt many in aviation will even notice. :mrgreen:
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
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Warmi
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Re: Elusive Magnetic North

Post by Warmi »

MrMorden wrote:Since it's not 1940, I doubt many in aviation will even notice. :mrgreen:

Hehehehe.... yes, I don’t remember last time I actually looked at my compass ...
Flying Sting S4 ( N184WA ) out of Illinois
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MrMorden
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Re: Elusive Magnetic North

Post by MrMorden »

Warmi wrote:
MrMorden wrote:Since it's not 1940, I doubt many in aviation will even notice. :mrgreen:
Hehehehe.... yes, I don’t remember last time I actually looked at my compass ...
The only time I do is if ATC asks me to fly a heading. I'll still do it the same way no matter what the Earth's core is doing, so *shrug*. If my heading is not what ATC expects, they will give me a new heading to fly!
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
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ShawnM
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Re: Elusive Magnetic North

Post by ShawnM »

Compass? What's that? Oh, do you mean that magenta line on my GPS? :mrgreen:

My SportCruiser didn't even come with a whisky compass, just the remote magnetometer from Dynon.
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Warmi
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Re: Elusive Magnetic North

Post by Warmi »

Oh I do proudly own a whisky compass - it is somewhat hidden, right behind my handsome go-to rug for spilled liquids in the cockpit ...


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Flying Sting S4 ( N184WA ) out of Illinois
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MrMorden
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Location: Athens, GA

Re: Elusive Magnetic North

Post by MrMorden »

ShawnM wrote:Compass? What's that? Oh, do you mean that magenta line on my GPS? :mrgreen:

My SportCruiser didn't even come with a whisky compass, just the remote magnetometer from Dynon.
I'm actually glad to have both a whiskey compass and the Dynon; I have never really been able to calibrate my Dynon magnetometer to be correct, no method I have tried has left it closer to true than 3-5° or so. As a result, when asked to fly a heading I refer to Mr. Whiskey.
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
HAPPYDAN
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Re: Elusive Magnetic North

Post by HAPPYDAN »

Glad you all saw the humor in this. That article makes it sound like the world may be ending! Anyway, here in PugetSoundLand, our variation is something like 18-20 degrees westerly, so the Boy Scout compass is kind of a crap-shoot. Fortunately, in the 4 different Skycatchers I've flown, the HSI was very reliable, but the GPS still wins, hands down. Failing this, there is always IFR (I Follow Roads).
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