Don Tuite wrote:


GPS has changed things. VFR, before GPS, you'd tend to look out the
window to see where you were, relative to that line you'd drawn on
your chart. Triangulation was mostly for when you'd been daydreaming
and looking out the window wasn't much help because one meandering
river looks like another meandering river.

I should say that I may have been spoiled by doing most of my flying
in the parts of the US West where landmarks are many and conspicuous.
But even on the Great Plains, I think VFR pilots would still plot a
rhumbline course. You'd have to be damned careful about following the
compass, but given that, the first thing you'd do is use landmarks or
the intersection of your course with a few VOR radials and landmarks
to work out your actual drift angle. Then you'd point your nose so as
to cancel out the drift and keep refining that.

I don't know what pilots do on the East Coast. The only time's I've
flown there, I could see for miles. But I hear that's rare.

But generally, making continually sure that what you see out the
window looks like what's on your chart is best. The worst thing, VFR,
is keeping your eyes on those round things on the panel all the time.

Don

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GPS takes most of the challenge out of navigation, and the fun too,
depending on your perspective. In rough IFR weather to hell with the
challenge.

I used to fly with my Dad, a weekend warrior pilot, but never paid much
attention to the navigation.

If I had my way I'd have a drafting table setup in the back of the plane
(with charts all over the place) and be navigating with a sextant.

It sounds like you guys that still use VOR's fly to/from them and maybe
make course corrections when you hit a radial from another VOR. Just
seems like a zig-zag way to get around, but the easiest way (without GPS).