On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 17:33:11 -0500, Andrew Gideon
wrote:

Andrew Sarangan wrote:

No, it is not just a reminder, it is a tremendous aid in interpretation.
Reverse sensing is all in your head.

Amusing combination of text, as the OBS only helps in this context if the
heading isn't [still] in your head. Yes, the information provided is
important. But - at least in my experience - it's already in memory.

What I don't understand is why nobody has yet mentioned wind correction in
this thread. When flying a localizer, I'll typically have some amount of
crab in place. Thus, my DG should read something different from the track
of the approach (and the OBS). If the needle starts to drift (and assuming
I've maintained my intended heading {8^), I'll correct that intended
heading one way or the other.

So while the plate may tell me to fly 223, I may flying 230. Tempting it is
to put 230 in the OBS, as that's not written anywhere. But that's too much
futzing (esp. as it is a dynamic value), so I just live with the need to

The OBS is not dynamic unless you are flying an NDB.. It is the course
on the VOR. Your heading changes, not the course, or it shouldn't.
Radial outbound and reciprical inbound, although you don't actually
fly on the radial outbound, but rather parallel to in (usually more at
an angle to get an egg shaped race track) A map display on GPS is
really nice for this once you learn it with out the GPS.
If this was an NDB I always set the *heading* (inbound and outbound)
in the OBS. It makes flying NDBs a breeze.

Whether inbound or outbound I always put the course in the OBS. It's
easy, it's quick, and it's the way I was taught.

I keep the OBS centered inbound. I can read the wind correction as
the difference between heading and course. If I have to hold 300 to
keep the OBS centered on a course of 270 I know the wind correction
angle is 30 degrees. What every the wind correction inbound I double
it outbound. Yes I have flown wind correction angles of 60 degrees
outbound ... twice and one of those was on my check ride.
Here the OBS only serves as a reminder and it lets me know if I'm
drifting off more than expected.

I do a "Kentucky windage" inbound on the first circuit to see if it's
short or long and adjust the outbound leg time accordingly. Normally
the second inbound will be within a few seconds.

I was taught to use heading bugs and the OBS as both remindders and
short cuts.

If you write like I do they are not only easier to remember but you
can read them.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
remember.

- Andrew