With the help of X-plane and now predominately MSFS in VR, I have been steadily climbing up the learning curve of VFR/VOR/IFR concepts, practices and instrumentation systems.  I know I will have missed vital details from using sims as my learning tool - but what a great way to at least start grasping the concepts...and sometimes the consequences of not grasping well enough those concepts!

And so, having got to the stage where I can generally get from one airport to another in once piece - and find the right gate after taxi - up to an including a CRJ and A320, I've recently revisited VFR to try to learn more of the intricacies and foibles of the basics. 

And I started with a niggling embarrassment.  You see, I have on my cupboard a genuine 1940's Type P11 Compass (looking at the marks on the bracketry, I'm not convinced it was ever fitted to an aircraft...probably a boat...but this model was indeed fitted to UK fighters including Spitfires such as the IX, where it can be seen in all cockpit shots sitting between the pilot's knees in front of the control column).  I also have a genuine and unused 1945 Spitfire IX boost gauge, complete with maroon outer ring:

And the embarrassment?

Well - with all of the VR flying I've done in the simply wonderful Flying Irons Simulations' Spitfire IX, I've never sorted before how you actually use the magnetic compass nor worked out when you use that rather than the gyro compass.  Here's the FIS Spitfire IX in MSFS:

And the magnetic compass, the gyro compass with adjuster circled in yellow and, for interest, the maroon-ringed boost gauge to the right:

 

Admittedly, my research into how to synchronise and use the magnetic and gyro compasses - and how often you need to do it (often!) -  is 'Youtube and Google Knowledge'.  But, accurate or not, it seemed to make sense.

And so, yesterday, I tried it out.   And it all worked a treat!

The flight was EGBB (Birmingham, UK) cold and dark to EGNX (East Midlands UK), including landing, shut down and restart, then back to EGBB using MSFS ATC Flight Following and vectors.  And using my new-found knowledge of setting the bearings and sync-ing the two compasses before and during the flight legs.

And as a VR experience - it was a knock-your-socks-off flight.  The real deal.  The flash of flame as the Merlin fires up; leaning out each side of the cockpit while zig-zagging along the taxi-ways, full elevator to keep the tail down; the clanking and clunking of the mechanical controls and undercarriage locking; the care on prop and mixture and radiator flaps (the engine really does die if you get those wrong); the engine note change as the hood is closed; the need to 'look outside and at all the gauges' when nevertheless trying to answer ATC instructions with a less than immediate mouse response; the hiss and clank of the flaps on short finals; the zig zag back along the taxi ways to the parking bay where the ground crew were waiting; the sound of the merlin slowing to a stop.

And then I had a final thought.  The canopy was already open to allow me to lean out during the zig zags and so I now unlocked and opened the side hatch.  Hmmm...I wonder.  I stood up and on tip toes, still with the headset on, clicked my 'pilot reposition' short cut.  Immediately, that dropped my eye level to more like control stick height when I sat back down.  I stood up again and shuffled to my left, and back a little in my desktop room (as far as the Reverb cable would let me) and ended up, in the VR view and as close as makes no difference, standing on the runway, outside the aircraft, looking at the cockpit interior from just behind the wing.  I looked around, there were a couple of the ground staff near enough (if it had been real life) to have had a conversation!  And there was the side and tail of magnificent Spitfire, glistening in the sun close enough to touch.

 

And yes - of course I want improvements, of course I'm as impatient as the next enthusiast, of course more FOV would make all the difference, and all the rest of it.  

But wow....just wow....

Edited April 2, 20224 yr by AJZip

***MODS ***  This was supposed to be posted in the VR section (that's the section I thought I'd posted it in)  .  Grateful if you could move it.  Thanks!

Anyway, Great Post !!!

 

It’s still a mystery why the RAF specified fitting what is essentially a ships compass into a short range bomber interceptor.

1 hour ago, DD_Arthur said:

It’s still a mystery why the RAF specified fitting what is essentially a ships compass into a short range bomber interceptor.

Simple !  They figured most would end up in the waters of the Channel ... 

1 hour ago, jcomm said:

Simple !  They figured most would end up in the waters of the Channel ... 

Lol. Well luckily it turned out the other way round but when the Spitfire and Hurricane were designed it was assumed the action would come from the direction of the North Sea rather than the Channel.😎

I suspect it was simply that they didn't have to reinvent the wheel.  The fluid-filled chamber itself is on a spring mount which would absorb the engine and turbulence shaking it about, much the same as needed when chugging along in a stormy sea! 

I'm sure someone around will know the definitive 😉

...and actually, it looks like it is the other way round.  🙂

  This is again, 'Google' knowledge speaking, but: The 'P' series of compasses (P for Pilot...there are also O models for the Observer) were the designations for the A.M. designed compasses - A.M. short for Air Ministry.  I know a lot of post WW2 surplus ended up on boats and the basic design was modelled on a marine compass, but it looks like any A.M stamped P-designated compass on a boat was originally intended as an aircraft pilot's compass rather than the other way round.

Of course, a proper ship's compass is fully gimballed - as were the master compasses at the back of many WW2 bombers - so I suppose it makes some sort of sense that the P-designs - which have a fairly low range of angle before they become restricted - were more suited to aircraft rather than boats.

Again...I'm sure someone around will know the definitive.

 

Fun post! Always down to learn some more WW2 historical knowledge. Sounds like one heck of an immersive experience for you 🙂