Solar storms spell trouble for GPS

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
.. .
| On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:17:38 -0500, "Jim Macklin"
| wrote in
| :
|
|
| BFD, All those radios are called Aids to navigation for
a
| reason, they are conveniences.
|
| Were you aware of the design flaw in GPS as implemented?
I just
| thought it might be a good idea to provide the information
to those
| weren't.
|
| Of course, this issue makes no mention of solar mass
ejections, that
| can potentially knock out any satellite.
|
| It appears that we are (finally?) seeing some
technological innovation
| tickling down to the GA fleet, but I'm becoming uneasy
with the
| apparent lack of robustness engineered in these early
systems.
|
|
| CAL found Paris with just a compass and a chart.
|
| Yes. It was an Earth Inductor Compass*. I've never seen
one of those
| in any aircraft in which I've flown, let alone piloted.
|
|
| * http://oldbeacon.com/beacon/earth_inductor_compass.htm

On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:38:27 -0500, "Jim Macklin"
wrote in
:

An early version if the slaved compass, just like nearly all
cabin class and all G1000 systems use.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't a slaved compass require
electrical power to operate? "Slim's" Earth Inductor Compass didn't
require any power except that generated by the coil rotating in the
Earth's magnetic field. So if I'm correct, those pilots flying behind
a dead glass-cockpit would only have a whiskey compass to navigate
with.

The Earth compass, was powered by a windmill, just as many
crop dusters power their spray pumps, and similarly to using
a venturi to power gyros, if you're flying you have power.
Using a retractable generator is even part of the modern jet
airliner.

Yes, when your G1000 dies, you will have very limited
navigation or even communication options. Check out the
difference between a Beech Baron or Bonanza G36/G58 and a
Cessna NAV III on the manual section at Garmin. com




"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
|
|
| "Larry Dighera" wrote in message
| .. .
| | On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:17:38 -0500, "Jim Macklin"
| | wrote in
| | :
| |
| |
| | BFD, All those radios are called Aids to navigation
for
| a
| | reason, they are conveniences.
| |
| | Were you aware of the design flaw in GPS as
implemented?
| I just
| | thought it might be a good idea to provide the
information
| to those
| | weren't.
| |
| | Of course, this issue makes no mention of solar mass
| ejections, that
| | can potentially knock out any satellite.
| |
| | It appears that we are (finally?) seeing some
| technological innovation
| | tickling down to the GA fleet, but I'm becoming uneasy
| with the
| | apparent lack of robustness engineered in these early
| systems.
| |
| |
| | CAL found Paris with just a compass and a chart.
| |
| | Yes. It was an Earth Inductor Compass*. I've never
seen
| one of those
| | in any aircraft in which I've flown, let alone piloted.
| |
| |
| | *
http://oldbeacon.com/beacon/earth_inductor_compass.htm
|
| On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:38:27 -0500, "Jim Macklin"
| wrote in
| :
|
| An early version if the slaved compass, just like nearly
all
| cabin class and all G1000 systems use.
|
| Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't a slaved compass
require
| electrical power to operate? "Slim's" Earth Inductor
Compass didn't
| require any power except that generated by the coil
rotating in the
| Earth's magnetic field. So if I'm correct, those pilots
flying behind
| a dead glass-cockpit would only have a whiskey compass to
navigate
| with.

On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:54:17 -0500, "Jim Macklin"
wrote in
:

The Earth compass, was powered by a windmill, just as many
crop dusters power their spray pumps, and similarly to using
a venturi to power gyros, if you're flying you have power.
Using a retractable generator is even part of the modern jet
airliner.

A propeller turned an armature, but there were no field coils; the
Earth's magnetic field played that role; thus no battery, nor
generator, nor venturi, nor vacuum pump nor any other power source was
required to operate it, unlike a slaved compass..

Yes, when your G1000 dies, you will have very limited
navigation or even communication options.

If you're in IMC at the time of such a failure, you're only landing
option will be a GCA approach, unless you have portable Nav equipment.

Check out the
difference between a Beech Baron or Bonanza G36/G58 and a
Cessna NAV III on the manual section at Garmin. com

What will I find?

One point, any proper weather briefing will determine where
and how far VFR conditions exist. Did that 30 years ago.
If you don't have any more than a compass you can find North
Dakota or Texas from Chicago or Atlanta. Today, even a $100
GPS will steer you pretty well ands aircraft walkie-talkies
are common, not so 30 years ago. But even without GPS or
radar, I could find a safe place to land.



"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
| On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:54:17 -0500, "Jim Macklin"
| wrote in
| :
|
| The Earth compass, was powered by a windmill, just as
many
| crop dusters power their spray pumps, and similarly to
using
| a venturi to power gyros, if you're flying you have
power.
| Using a retractable generator is even part of the modern
jet
| airliner.
|
| A propeller turned an armature, but there were no field
coils; the
| Earth's magnetic field played that role; thus no battery,
nor
| generator, nor venturi, nor vacuum pump nor any other
power source was
| required to operate it, unlike a slaved compass..
|
| Yes, when your G1000 dies, you will have very limited
| navigation or even communication options.
|
| If you're in IMC at the time of such a failure, you're
only landing
| option will be a GCA approach, unless you have portable
Nav equipment.
|
| Check out the
| difference between a Beech Baron or Bonanza G36/G58 and a
| Cessna NAV III on the manual section at Garmin. com
|
| What will I find?