Stupid Newbie Pattern Question

Jay Honeck wrote:

GPS has changed *everything* about flying -- and clinging to the old
VOR system is just another example of calcified thinking.

There's a difference between "clinging" to it, and "using" it, and
"knowing that it's there". I have a Garmin 195 AND a VOR AND an open
sectional (or now that I'm instrument rated, a low level airways chart)
in my plane at all times.

Have you done a cross country flight lately, Pete? I don't mean to
Spokane -- I mean CROSS COUNTRY. If so, you would know how ludicrous
your statement truly is.

Well, I have - I've been from MA to FL a few times, to WI a few times,
and to CO once. I think that qualifies - all of that in the last two
years, along with numerous flights from MA to VA, or MA to NJ over a
route I know VERY well, and can fly blindfolded.

If not, you really aren't qualified to comment.

So given that criteria, I am qualified to comment.

Stupidly, I might attempt to use my 1950s-tech dual VORs to
"cross-check" my dual GPS-verified position, even though I know that
they are exponentially less accurate instruments.

You are correct - they are much less accurate, wander all over the
freaking place, and have no range. But, they're there, and if the GPS
gives up the ghost, the VOR's will be a decent cross check. I (not
stupidly) check the VOR's as I fly by them, just to verify what my GPS
and eyeballs/map are telling me - if I ever see a discrepancy, I'll have
to spend more than the 10 seconds that takes every ten minutes or so
figuring out why.

THAT is the reality of VORs to the modern pilot, Pete. Welcome to the
real world. You should have taken the Blue Pill.

There are many valid "real worlds". I've been flying since 1974. I
LOVE my GPS, and would hate to fly without it. But I ALWAYS have an
open map, cross check against the map using my eyeballs every couple of
minutes, and also cross check with the VOR on occasion. If I had an ADF
in the plane for some reason, I'd cross check with that, too.....

--
Marc J. Zeitlin
http://marc.zeitlin.home.comcast.net/
http://www.cozybuilders.org/
Copyright (c) 2005