True Meaning Of VOR

wrote in message
oups.com...

I am an aspiring flight student. I'd like my first message to this
group to be one with foot in mouth:

I am not convinced that the term VOR stands for "Very high frequenncy
omnidirectional range."

The problem is that, if I were an electrical engineer designing such a
device, knowing in advance how it worked, I'd be highly inclinded to
call it a "Very high frequency ominidirectional radiator" given that it
radiates in all directions using the VHF band.

Yet both the chapters by Rod Machado that comes with Micrsoft Flight
Simulator and the handbooks from the FAA say that it stands for
"...ominidirectional range", so I might be barking up a tall tree here,
but just a thought.

Is there anyone here whose experience in flight precede the advent of
VOR that could say what it stands for?


The R means Range and always has. The predecessor to VOR was simply called
the "Radio range" and was so designated on aeronautical charts. In 1948
VORs began appearing on the charts but they weren't then designated VORs,
they were designated "Omni-directional range". The information boxes for
specific ranges were identical except "OMNI" appeared above the box of a
VOR.

The R means Range and always has.

I still don't understand why the word 'range' is in there, a VOR doesn't
give you any distance to or from anything unless you use two or more of them
to determine your position. Why isn't it called a 'directional' or
'positional'? Is range just an old-timey word whose meaning has shifted over
the years?

"Mike W." wrote in message
...

I still don't understand why the word 'range' is in there, a VOR doesn't
give you any distance to or from anything unless you use two or more of
them to determine your position. Why isn't it called a 'directional' or
'positional'? Is range just an old-timey word whose meaning has shifted
over the years?


It's a carryover from marine navigation.

http://www.dirauxwest.org/Piloting/atn3.htm#Ranges

In article , Mike W. wrote:

The R means Range and always has.

I still don't understand why the word 'range' is in there, a VOR doesn't
give you any distance to or from anything unless you use two or more of them
to determine your position. Why isn't it called a 'directional' or
'positional'? Is range just an old-timey word whose meaning has shifted over
the years?

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionar...=range&x=0&y=0

Dictionary definition 1c states: "a direction line".

Which is how the word 'range' is used in nautical terminology as I
understand it, and also in aviation.

That dictionary (Merriam-Webster) also mentions there are a total of 38
different meanings or definitions of the word 'range', so perhaps you
were thinking of a different meaning...?

-Dan

"Mike W." wrote in message
...


The R means Range and always has.

I still don't understand why the word 'range' is in there, a VOR doesn't
give you any distance to or from anything unless you use two or more of
them
to determine your position.

You can determine distance from a VOR with the aid of a clock and a
bit of math. Turn 90 degrees to the inbound course and time 5 or 10
degrees of the arc. Note that this also works with an ADF.

Times here are in minutes.
Time to station = time * 60 / degrees change
Distance from station = time * TAS / degrees change
This one works with knots or MPH but MPH gives distance
in statute miles instead of nautical miles.

If close to the VOR (seconds = minutes * 60)
Time to station (minutes) = seconds/degrees change (usually 10 degrees)

You can typically do the math in your head fairly close or more
accurately with a wiz wheel or a calculator.

My dad always refered to VOR's as "Omni's". He started flying in the early
40's (See http://users.erols.com/viewptmd/Dad.html) and I can remember how
impressed he was with the first "Omni" he had installed in one of his planes
in the 60's. A major advance as far as he was concerned.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
nk.net...

wrote in message
oups.com...

I am an aspiring flight student. I'd like my first message to this
group to be one with foot in mouth:

I am not convinced that the term VOR stands for "Very high frequenncy
omnidirectional range."

The problem is that, if I were an electrical engineer designing such a
device, knowing in advance how it worked, I'd be highly inclinded to
call it a "Very high frequency ominidirectional radiator" given that it
radiates in all directions using the VHF band.

Yet both the chapters by Rod Machado that comes with Micrsoft Flight
Simulator and the handbooks from the FAA say that it stands for
"...ominidirectional range", so I might be barking up a tall tree here,
but just a thought.

Is there anyone here whose experience in flight precede the advent of
VOR that could say what it stands for?


The R means Range and always has. The predecessor to VOR was simply
called
the "Radio range" and was so designated on aeronautical charts. In 1948
VORs began appearing on the charts but they weren't then designated VORs,
they were designated "Omni-directional range". The information boxes for
specific ranges were identical except "OMNI" appeared above the box of a
VOR.