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Post by jsaus on May 8, 2020 9:56:13 GMT -5
Nice goin'! You may want to have a look at these excellent resources: - Sextant navigation tutorial by AJ Crowley, titled FSX but applies equally to FS9: youtu.be/1Es9Qi8z4is (part 1 of 2) - Threads on this site by 'Connieguy' Ken on navigation, for instance his account of an Atlantic crossing here: calclassic.proboards.com/post/79315/thread Have fun, Erik Thank you! Yeah that Bubble Sextant is going to take some time to work out. I usually give myself 3-5 years for this kind of stuff.
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Post by agent0archer on May 8, 2020 12:35:45 GMT -5
Checking the map is like checking in with the Navigator. You're the pilot. The crew is there to help you out.
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Post by Erik on May 8, 2020 16:32:36 GMT -5
Checking the map is like checking in with the Navigator. You're the pilot. The crew is there to help you out. Oh I absolutely agree. It is all just a matter of taste, of what one enjoys most. I am among those fascinated by the ability to simulate (part of) other crew roles as well. For me, it adds a dimension to the whole FS experience but each to his own, of course! Erik
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Post by mrcapitalism on May 8, 2020 20:30:57 GMT -5
I actually bought a paper copy of the FAA's Flight Navigator Handbook, and a new metal E6B which has the features required for astro nav... if I ever get around to doing it LOL. It's fair to point out to OP that the L-1649A doesn't have an astrodome, so astro navigation likely isn't accurate for realistic operation. Also these FSAviator posts also apply to the Starliner. L-1649A Read Before FlightStarliner Fuel Planning NotesPolar route planningEnjoy! Make sure you have the updates too.. there are a couple of them out there.
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 8, 2020 22:43:13 GMT -5
Hi,
Actually most 4 engine propliners had a periscopic sextant port. You pushed the sextant into an aperture in the roof and then opened the aperture to the sky (somehow). So the sextant was definitely used in this era.
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Post by mrcapitalism on May 9, 2020 0:39:24 GMT -5
Really? Even a civilian propliner like the Starliner? I didn't know that, thanks! EDIT: I just found this video of a KC-135's sextant port. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrFHoAXEzsAIt makes sense when I think about it... not a very big hole so there's no need to seal it, just open it when you want to use the sextant and let cabin pressure exhaust. Close it when you're done....huh...
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Post by connieguy on May 9, 2020 3:55:33 GMT -5
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Post by Herman on May 9, 2020 7:43:26 GMT -5
Interesting read.
Herman
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 9, 2020 8:52:05 GMT -5
Hi,
On pressurized aircraft I believe there was a way to insert the sextant without breaking the atmospheric seal, so little or no cabin pressure was lost.
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Post by jsaus on May 9, 2020 11:06:30 GMT -5
Since I dont know how to use the Sextant, I replaced the Sextant port on my Starliner with a wifi antenna. That way I can watch Netflix next time that I'm crossing the Atlantic. And yes, for now I'll just take the Lat/Long from the sim and plot it on Google Earth which is my imaginary map. Close enough as mentioned to having a virtual navigator. Until I DO figure out that Sextant thingy.
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Post by warbaby on May 12, 2020 12:43:59 GMT -5
I have several apps on my phone that I use to navigate. A flight computer, and a nautical calculator, which has everything you need to cross any ocean.
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Post by jsaus on May 12, 2020 15:53:41 GMT -5
Well, I'm 3 flights in and have gotten a little better. Did a DC-4 flight from NY Idlewild to Bermuda (TXKF). Not quite a direct track, down the coast a little to an NDB then a waypoint over ocean, to the Ship stationed (Hotel), another waypoint then Wade Int. All of that was to make it a little easier. And along with that a couple position checks with the Sextant which I've used a few times now pretty successfully. Using the map feature and taking 3 fixes using the Sun seemed to work pretty well. I tracked basically to the southern end of the Island(s). And it was easy to spot from the air.
L-749 Gander to LGA completed as well using mostly NDB's and a check of the sextant over the water part. So I'll have to test my ability's for the return legs particularly back across the Atlantic to Shannon.
Using Google Earth is ok to pinpoint my (assumed)locations. But It would be more fun with some a decent map and rulers etc.
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Post by chris_c on May 12, 2020 16:31:09 GMT -5
More data. Checking the CAB report on this accident and it seems that the astrodome itself was only 3/8" thick and had never been intended for use in a pressurized aircraft. After this incident Lockheed upgraded all astrodomes to 1/2" thickness. CAB Preliminary Accident Report 14 March 1947You may have to log into the DOT Library to access the report if interested. Chris
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corum
ConvairLiner
Posts: 63
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Post by corum on May 13, 2020 1:29:19 GMT -5
A quote from Stanley Stewart: Flying the big jets First published 1984, page 97:
The sextant was placed in position through a double-door pressurized mounting, situated in the flight deck roof. The first door was opened to allow the neck of the sextant to be inserted into the opening, and the second door then opened to ease the periscope tube out into the atmosphere. Because of the differential pressure a fairly strong force attempted to pull the sextant upwards and it had to be restrained from shooting up to the locked position. A flight engineer once unofficially designed an attachment for the end of a vacuum cleaning hose to fit into the sextant mounting. The idea was to open the double doors of the sextant mounting in the cruise and to use the hose like a vacuum cleaner to tidy the flight deck. On the first trial the hose was attached to the sextant mounting and the double doors opened, but the suction was so strong it pulled the hose inside out and sucked out the complete unit!
Either way, it's a good story...
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Post by Stromer on May 17, 2020 13:03:50 GMT -5
For flights over the Atlantic, I had weather ships installed, on which I was guided. In this video, I fly over one of these weather ships when I flew to the Azores: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N7xSOq5UQQ&feature=emb_logoFor flights en route to Shannon, there are two ships.
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