Hi everyone,Today I flew my first VFR flight using the Plan G flight planner and it is excellent! The software enabled me to use a very complicated flight plan which meant I would be triangulating my position three times in the space of 30 mins during a little sightseeing trip over Stone Hedge. It also meant I knew when I would be over particular roads etc....very detailed and so satisfying when you see that road pop up on the horizon and your VFR skills worked! (screenshots of flight in screenshot forum)That brings me onto something else. I did try to plan a triangulation from different VOR's but when I got in the sim, the VORs bought about the barber pole in the OBS display meaning they weren't working. Do all the VORs in Plan G work in FSX? Also I am looking for a nice payware VFR aircraft (possibly from Carenado) that would enable me to triangulate, that is to say contain two Nav radios and two OBS dials. And possibly with DME equipment also. Could anyone make a suggestion?How does a VFR aircraft with no DME and only one Nav radio triangulate??Thanks in advance!Rich

I can't see any screenshots in the relevant forum, Rich. Have you posted them yet?

.........How does a VFR aircraft with no DME and only one Nav radio triangulate??Thanks in advance!Rich

Hi Rich,In my IFR training, I had to demonstrate holding at an published intersection (formed by certain radials from 2 VOR's)with the GPS and one nav radio "disabled", and no DME on board. What you do is get into a rhythem of changing nav frequencies (I had a stand-by flip-flop type of radio that at least there's no nav tuning required), and changing the OBS to the applicable radial for the either VOR. The hard part becomes associating a nav frequency with an OBS setting, if you get out of sync then you obviously get an error. Add the altitude bust of 50 feet and a "disabled" autopilot, it gets pretty busy! :)That is the hard way to simulate 2 VOR's, but if one fails you have to be able to get by with 1. You could use this method to determine your position.Thanks, Bruce.

I can't see any screenshots in the relevant forum, Rich. Have you posted them yet?

My apologies Chris! I will put them up now! I made the mistake of copying this post from Mutley Hanger forum.Link to screenshots of flight ------> http://forum.avsim.net/topic/337375-sightseeing/

Hi Rich,In my IFR training, I had to demonstrate holding at an published intersection (formed by certain radials from 2 VOR's)with the GPS and one nav radio "disabled", and no DME on board. What you do is get into a rhythem of changing nav frequencies (I had a stand-by flip-flop type of radio that at least there's no nav tuning required), and changing the OBS to the applicable radial for the either VOR. The hard part becomes associating a nav frequency with an OBS setting, if you get out of sync then you obviously get an error. Add the altitude bust of 50 feet and a "disabled" autopilot, it gets pretty busy! :)That is the hard way to simulate 2 VOR's, but if one fails you have to be able to get by with 1. You could use this method to determine your position.Thanks, Bruce.

that even sounds busy!!Rich

Thanks, Rich. I just wanted to check that you had Stonehenge in the correct location. I assume that you are using the excellent freeware 3D model from Earth Simulations?

The only Stonehenge you need:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7wcyLrPqC4Al

Hi everyone,Today I flew my first VFR flight using the Plan G flight planner and it is excellent! The software enabled me to use a very complicated flight plan which meant I would be triangulating my position three times in the space of 30 mins during a little sightseeing trip over Stone Hedge. It also meant I knew when I would be over particular roads etc....very detailed and so satisfying when you see that road pop up on the horizon and your VFR skills worked! (screenshots of flight in screenshot forum)That brings me onto something else. I did try to plan a triangulation from different VOR's but when I got in the sim, the VORs bought about the barber pole in the OBS display meaning they weren't working. Do all the VORs in Plan G work in FSX? Also I am looking for a nice payware VFR aircraft (possibly from Carenado) that would enable me to triangulate, that is to say contain two Nav radios and two OBS dials. And possibly with DME equipment also. Could anyone make a suggestion?How does a VFR aircraft with no DME and only one Nav radio triangulate??Thanks in advance!Rich

Some VOR's only work above a certain altitude, so it could be that you just weren't high enough....or that VOR doesn't exist in FSX, but you should be able to see it in map view or in the FSX flight planner (I guess that would be cheating if you're flying VFR).Another way to check if it exists is to click the "direct to" button on the GPS and try inputing the VOR's three-letter identifier.

This is truly impressive (so long as NO moving map or GPS was used during the flight)..As satisfying as it is, you'll find it just as satisfying to plan these flights with no software assistance (sounds like you're going that way).Toward that goal; I'll give some advice, and maybe answer a question or two..As for not receiving radial information (barber pole); first (you probably know this), check the audio signal, to make sure you're receiving a signal.. if you are, you're probaly tuned to a DME-only station.. there are many of them. And as flightluuvr mentions, there are three types of VOR: High-altitude, Low-altitude, and Terminal ... each with different ranges, and useful altitudes.Now, always remember, a radial intersection way-point can be just about ANYwhere you choose.. you can plot relatively direct courses (airspace allowing).. And for less precise courses, you can select appropriate radials as, "do not cross" borders, to keep you clear of airspaces. Also, on less precise courses.. you can "funnel" your way to an airport that has no VOR on the field.. Just select to radials that intersect at the airport.. plot your "dead-reckoning" course per winds aloft.. fly toward the airport.. with any luck, the two needles will center as the airport comes into view .. or, if the winds are a bit different than forecast (they always are), you'll "hit" one radial before the other, just track it until the other needle begins to center, and again, the airport will be right there !As for single VOR, no DME, and figuring out where you are, as mentioned, just switch back and forth bwetween two VORs, setting the OBS each time. Another "trick" for figuring how far you are from VOR (flying to it) (with just one NAV).. after you're established on a radial (good feel for any X-wind relative to that radial).. turn the OBS 10 degrees one way or the other, then change heading (mentally allowing for the winds) the same 10 degrees.. time how long it takes for the CDI(needle) to re-center, and that time, is aproximately how long it will take to reach the VOR (basic geometry)..Navigation, and situation awareness are like a group of mental muscles that need regular excersise, so that all of this stuff is second-nature ... and makes the transition to instrument flying more smooth (in sim, and in the real world) :(

This is truly impressive (so long as NO moving map or GPS was used during the flight)..As satisfying as it is, you'll find it just as satisfying to plan these flights with no software assistance (sounds like you're going that way).Toward that goal; I'll give some advice, and maybe answer a question or two..As for not receiving radial information (barber pole); first (you probably know this), check the audio signal, to make sure you're receiving a signal.. if you are, you're probaly tuned to a DME-only station.. there are many of them. And as flightluuvr mentions, there are three types of VOR: High-altitude, Low-altitude, and Terminal ... each with different ranges, and useful altitudes.Now, always remember, a radial intersection way-point can be just about ANYwhere you choose.. you can plot relatively direct courses (airspace allowing).. And for less precise courses, you can select appropriate radials as, "do not cross" borders, to keep you clear of airspaces. Also, on less precise courses.. you can "funnel" your way to an airport that has no VOR on the field.. Just select to radials that intersect at the airport.. plot your "dead-reckoning" course per winds aloft.. fly toward the airport.. with any luck, the two needles will center as the airport comes into view .. or, if the winds are a bit different than forecast (they always are), you'll "hit" one radial before the other, just track it until the other needle begins to center, and again, the airport will be right there !As for single VOR, no DME, and figuring out where you are, as mentioned, just switch back and forth bwetween two VORs, setting the OBS each time. Another "trick" for figuring how far you are from VOR (flying to it) (with just one NAV).. after you're established on a radial (good feel for any X-wind relative to that radial).. turn the OBS 10 degrees one way or the other, then change heading (mentally allowing for the winds) the same 10 degrees.. time how long it takes for the CDI(needle) to re-center, and that time, is aproximately how long it will take to reach the VOR (basic geometry)..Navigation, and situation awareness are like a group of mental muscles that need regular excersise, so that all of this stuff is second-nature ... and makes the transition to instrument flying more smooth (in sim, and in the real world) :(

Thank you! Some hugely valuable information there! I particularly like the idea of timing the 10 degree deviation to gain distance to the VOR without DME equipment. Maybe the old Cessna might get used again after all!Rich

This is truly impressive (so long as NO moving map or GPS was used during the flight)..As satisfying as it is, you'll find it just as satisfying to plan these flights with no software assistance (sounds like you're going that way).Toward that goal; I'll give some advice, and maybe answer a question or two..As for not receiving radial information (barber pole); first (you probably know this), check the audio signal, to make sure you're receiving a signal.. if you are, you're probaly tuned to a DME-only station.. there are many of them. And as flightluuvr mentions, there are three types of VOR: High-altitude, Low-altitude, and Terminal ... each with different ranges, and useful altitudes.Now, always remember, a radial intersection way-point can be just about ANYwhere you choose.. you can plot relatively direct courses (airspace allowing).. And for less precise courses, you can select appropriate radials as, "do not cross" borders, to keep you clear of airspaces. Also, on less precise courses.. you can "funnel" your way to an airport that has no VOR on the field.. Just select to radials that intersect at the airport.. plot your "dead-reckoning" course per winds aloft.. fly toward the airport.. with any luck, the two needles will center as the airport comes into view .. or, if the winds are a bit different than forecast (they always are), you'll "hit" one radial before the other, just track it until the other needle begins to center, and again, the airport will be right there !As for single VOR, no DME, and figuring out where you are, as mentioned, just switch back and forth bwetween two VORs, setting the OBS each time. Another "trick" for figuring how far you are from VOR (flying to it) (with just one NAV).. after you're established on a radial (good feel for any X-wind relative to that radial).. turn the OBS 10 degrees one way or the other, then change heading (mentally allowing for the winds) the same 10 degrees.. time how long it takes for the CDI(needle) to re-center, and that time, is aproximately how long it will take to reach the VOR (basic geometry)..Navigation, and situation awareness are like a group of mental muscles that need regular excersise, so that all of this stuff is second-nature ... and makes the transition to instrument flying more smooth (in sim, and in the real world) :(

Wow, It seems I know NOTHING about VFR flying!! :(

Wow, It seems I know NOTHING about VFR flying!! :(

Get Air Navigation by Weems. He knows navigation cold because... He invented Air Navigation! (Also taught Lindbergh the essentials of celestial navigation for his Atlantic crossing).If you want to navigate the old-fashioned way (and really excercise that noggin'), ditch the VOR and go for Dave Bitzer's Sextant + DriftMeter combo!Can you help Amelia Earhart find Howland Island after 2,227 NM over the South Pacific Ocean? (Details)Cheers,- jahman.