On 2005-06-13, LWG wrote:
Reflecting back, the thing that helped the most was my Garmin 295. I really
don't think it would have been possible to navigate the way I did without
it.

It's perfectly possible to navigate without it - just keep track of
time, heading and make a rudimentary log. The log needn't be anything
complex or long-winded - it can be as simple as noting minutes past the
hour on your chart and keeping track of heading. It takes seconds to
do (and headings can be easily estimated on the chart using any nearby
VOR compass rose).

I agree that GPS is nice, and it's a great workload reducer, but I'd
also advise when using GPS, also keep that simple log I mentioned
earlier on your chart in case you lose the GPS signal or the GPS dies -
that way, if the GPS does die you are not lost and can fall back to
chart navigation very easily because you've already been keeping track
of waypoints on your chart and therefore know exactly where you are.

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"