GPS and old-fashioned thinking?
Here is something you have with a GPS that you don't have with most
other Nav -- GROUNDSPEED. (Yes you can get it if you have DME and are
flying to/from the station). How does that help? Helps with fuel
planning and time. Will you be flying at night or will you make it
before nightfall?
I once used GPS for deciding if I should attempt flying ridge lift. I
was heavily loaded in my Amphib. I can climb to 13000' I need to get
over Corona, but its not easy. Usually there is a west wind causing
ridgelift as you fly west to east. As I climbed, it was apparent that I
wasn't going to make it without circling. But...that west wind..IF I
was SURE it existed. So I turned into the wind (my destination was
east) to make sure and checked my GS with my airspeed. Sure enough it
was there. I went close to the ridge (so close you didn't want to be
there if there were downdrafts), and the wind just lifted me right up
and over the pass. WAY COOL!
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