Derrick Steed wrote:
Isn't there some form of flux gate compass which can be used? The GPS's we use originated in the maritime market (after NMEA is a maritime standard), surely there is a flux gate compass with NMEA output.

Rgds,

Derrick.

Hi, Bill.

The Garmin eTrex Vista includes GPS, barometric altitude, and electronic
compass. IIRC all the above data are output on the serial interface as
NMEA or Garmin sentences.

Can you get by with +- 2 degrees heading accuracy? No idea how big the
dip error is when wings banked, but maybe your flight computer could be
smart enough to use the compass when straight & level and switch to
turning-base wind calculation when banked?

http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexVista/spec.html

Dave