ganers Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Hi all, This maybe a bit premature at the moment as I only have a few flights under my belt, but I want to start wandering a little bit further afield during a flight, I've got quite a few interesting things to aim for that a really close and no worries about airspace, theses range from 4 miles away to 12 miles away. So with this in mind I am wondering what the average bumbling about distance people take on when going for a simple flight not an XC mission, it looks like my motor is around the 4 ltr an hour mark, but its not had a really good steady run to get accurate data yet. Also Im wondering what instruments people carry, this may sound like a lame question but the reason I ask is that after mauling about with an Iphone4 for a while there are some cracking app's that seem to pretty much replace everything! I know the requirement for an up to date map, so I was thinking that a map, altimeter and Iphone would pretty much cover everything, I also hae a compass stuck in the harness just in case. Obviously with a small trip of 4 miles I doubt I would need them but its easy enough to carry them anyway. Cheers Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_b Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Sounds like you have it covered with what you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidreckitt Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 I wouldn't rely on an app on an iphone personally. I have a Flymaster GPS - brilliant thing. Ive set it up to tell me where I took off from (follow simple arrow), height above take off, flight duration, wind speed and direction, vario diagram. altitude and time. I can put waypoints in easily enough - well worth the money. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 I started off not trusting the Iphone apps, but now with the RunwayHD app and the amazing stability of it and the iPhone I am more than happy to use it for XC planning and execution. If I am in a place that I dont know, I will always draw a line on a map. (you just cant beat that for reliability) SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganers Posted November 2, 2012 Author Share Posted November 2, 2012 I'll have a look for that app simon, so with regards to Flights what's a reasonable distance to look at. Unfortunately due to shifts more often than not ill be on my jack jones whilst in the air but will have some one on the ground. Just wondering what others routinely do. Cheers lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I like to get an hour in, either an out and return or a large circular route. It depends on the wind conditions but I'm doing 20+ miles. The only instruments are alti/vario and 2m radio to talk back to home. Cheers, Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgy Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 If your going to get equipment IMO your better off getting sperate items.. Vario. GPS. Compass, map. If you have separate item if one goes down you have a back up. I use a Garmin for my GPS and has many functions. I have alway got one of the Paramaters set to glide Ratio to destination and Glide ratio. As most of our sites are noise sensitive and i like to switch of a few km's away and glide in. If your going to Stay Local you dont really need to take a map as long as you know the air space or if you have it on your GPS. In the early days your better of with minimal equipment go with a Vario Map and compass and learn to fly with just these. You will be screwed if you can read the air map on an XC if your GPS goes down... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidreckitt Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 IAs most of our sites are noise sensitive and i like to switch of a few km's away and glide in. Interesting morgy - initially wondered why - good idea.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganers Posted November 3, 2012 Author Share Posted November 3, 2012 Thanks for everyone's ideas just need to start enjoying it now. Cheers Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curiosity Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Interesting thread. I, for one, would very much like to hear from others what their typical distance flown usually is. Whether circular, out-and-back, or XC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgy Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Most of the flights down here on the south coast are mainly small XC's circa 100km We normally take of from seymores farm and head for the coast. Then head along the coast and then back down the river following it a low as possible... We also do a great XC over too and around the isle of Wight Summer only!!! our minimum flight will be around 1 hour up to 5+hours sometime it includes a pub lunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganers Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Five hours plus! Is that refuelling or on a four stroke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelt Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Back again, so gunna start posting How many people use aware? just of interest to see how popular it is? Thanks Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_b Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Back again, so gunna start posting How many people use aware? just of interest to see how popular it is? Thanks Mike Me for one and its great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgy Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Five hours plus! Is that refuelling or on a four stroke? Four stroke with the use of thermals... I use an aware when i need to fly as close as i can to airspace to creep around it with out breaking into it. Has some + sides and some - sides to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 The RunwayHD app is better than an aware IMO. I have the £1000+ unit from airbox in my little Jab, and its less functional than the app. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganers Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Ive had a look at this runway hd and I must say like the look of it. I have no navigational experience at all save for compass work from hiking and diving, but thats it. Initially I was playing with memory map on a demo version and was impressed but runway hd seems to offer a lot more to assist you. However when I went to look into getting the app and CAA maps it's looking very expensive compared with memory map. Unless I'm missing something it was coming around £140 for the1/4 mill maps does this sound about right? Cheers Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I am fairly sure that the maps are the same cost as MM. A standard price for (a) digital map is about £25. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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