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We have been having really crappy visibility below 2,500 here for weeks--sooo I'm thinking, ugly day, do something with it.
I take off and fly outbound to a GPS waypoint I've set up 5 miles out that is straight in to 32 more or less on the runway heading.
Did a little offside angle and then turned back to the waypoint using N, B, and alky a lot because the horizon was non-existant. On my surplus T&B it is about 1 pointer width for a nice calm turn.
About 1/2 mile from the waypoint, on the runway heading, I change the waypoint to the one on the numbers for 32. Takes a few seconds, works out fine. Power back, start down from 2,200.
First run at 80mph GPS/ 400 per minute, I wind up too high.
Go back try it again at 70 mph. Bingo, would have put me right on the numbers. This is all with a $130 Magellan GPS that just happens to have WAAS. Amazing device.
Our resident old timer corporate pilot here gestimated that our VOR approach might put you as much as 5 miles on either side if you add up all the possible errors.
Hope I'll never need it, but it is good to keep your blade sharp and one more ace up your sleeve.
I think I will work it out from a little higher up and further out as the tops on the valley fog, when it is really socked in, may be a little higher than 2,200.
Managed to turn an ugly day into something enjoyable, challenging, and useful.
Darryl
I take off and fly outbound to a GPS waypoint I've set up 5 miles out that is straight in to 32 more or less on the runway heading.
Did a little offside angle and then turned back to the waypoint using N, B, and alky a lot because the horizon was non-existant. On my surplus T&B it is about 1 pointer width for a nice calm turn.
About 1/2 mile from the waypoint, on the runway heading, I change the waypoint to the one on the numbers for 32. Takes a few seconds, works out fine. Power back, start down from 2,200.
First run at 80mph GPS/ 400 per minute, I wind up too high.
Go back try it again at 70 mph. Bingo, would have put me right on the numbers. This is all with a $130 Magellan GPS that just happens to have WAAS. Amazing device.
Our resident old timer corporate pilot here gestimated that our VOR approach might put you as much as 5 miles on either side if you add up all the possible errors.
Hope I'll never need it, but it is good to keep your blade sharp and one more ace up your sleeve.
I think I will work it out from a little higher up and further out as the tops on the valley fog, when it is really socked in, may be a little higher than 2,200.
Managed to turn an ugly day into something enjoyable, challenging, and useful.
Darryl
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