The new Shorts SC7 by Inibuilds. Compass is right in front of the pilot for good visibility. Instead of at the center post where it's hard to see from either the left or right seat. I simulation or real life, I don't know why they put it where it's harder to read. In earlier versions of FS where you can easily alter the panel configuration. I always either enlarged the compass card, or moved the compass.

In any older plane, I always make a straight on and close custom view of some type of instrument for heading and assign it to keypad 0. (But I don't really need one in this plane).

 

 

 

 

How you finding the skyvan? It's the sort of plane I would normally like. But I have a few iniBuild GA planes that quite frankly are hanger queens because they just don't feel right to fly. So I've hesitated on this one. Do you see yourself flying it for a long while yet?

Like a magnetic compass? 
 

I can’t even remember the last time I looked at a magnetic compass in a real airplane 😂.  It’s stowed away on the ATR and never gets unstowed.  

At 21:54 , the inibuilds weather radar. (Right  after demonstrating how the plane can descend fast enough from altitude to beat the parachuters down).

 

3 hours ago, ATRguy said:

Like a magnetic compass? 
 

I can’t even remember the last time I looked at a magnetic compass in a real airplane 😂.  It’s stowed away on the ATR and never gets unstowed.  

What about correcting gyro drift? Or just hit the keyboard shortcut?

19 minutes ago, s0cks said:

What about correcting gyro drift? Or just hit the keyboard shortcut?

I also haven’t flown a plane without an HSI in years.  So it’s slaved.  

3 hours ago, ATRguy said:

Like a magnetic compass? 
 

I can’t even remember the last time I looked at a magnetic compass in a real airplane 😂.  It’s stowed away on the ATR and never gets unstowed.  

Are you serious ?  

3 hours ago, sd_flyer said:

Are you serious ?  

Yes?  To what point and purpose does a magnetic compass serve on an airliner with dual FMS systems, EHSIs, and operates (for me) in an area of the world where we don’t even operate on magnetic headings?  And even if I didn’t, it’s still a useless item in every day flying.  
 

It’s there for the most emergency of emergencies, and I’ve never even unstowed it in the sim.  
 

It just struck me as a funny thing to want right in front of you, since you never really look at it, that’s all. 

Edited May 30, 20242 yr by ATRguy

3 hours ago, s0cks said:

What about correcting gyro drift? Or just hit the keyboard shortcut?

Take your track on the GPS.  Boom, you have your track on the DG.  

7 minutes ago, ATRguy said:

Yes?  To what point and purpose does a magnetic compass serve on an airliner with dual FMS systems, EHSIs, and operates (for me) in an area of the world where we don’t even operate on magnetic headings?  And even if I didn’t, it’s still a useless item in every day flying.  
 

It’s there for the most emergency of emergencies, and I’ve never even unstowed it in the sim.  
 

It just struck me as a funny thing to want right in front of you, since you never really look at it, that’s all. 

Purpose of magnetic compass?  It's still part of Part 121.305 here in US (talking about airlines) Dual FMC as reliable as  Boing door that flew off or "impossible rare" dual engine failure of Challenger 604. Or wing that fell off from Piper Arrow during check ride at Embry Riddle (fresh out of annual ) There is nothing reliable in the world but pilot proficiency in fundamental flying skill - stick, rudder and dead reckoning. 

I mean how bad could it be with FADEC, and auto feather ? TransAsia airliner 235 anyone?

P.S. I had several full electrical failures  including one in IMC. And still I found compass  very handy. LOL

1 hour ago, ATRguy said:

Take your track on the GPS.  Boom, you have your track on the DG.  

But the DG needs a heading, not a track?

Sure, if the winds are light, it won't make a big difference... but what if the winds aren't light? 

10 hours ago, Fielder said:

The new Shorts SC7 by Inibuilds. Compass is right in front of the pilot for good visibility. Instead of at the center post where it's hard to see from either the left or right seat. I simulation or real life, I don't know why they put it where it's harder to read.

I guess the reason so many aircraft have it on the center post is that both pilots can read it adequately, even if the position isn't ideal for either pilot. (Does the SC7 have another compass for the copilot, or does it simply favour the captain?)

Another consideration in locating the magnetic compass is to keep it away from magnetic fields generated by electrical equipment - hence it's often some distance away from the instrument panel. 

It's still used to set the DG on most GA, and I use it all of the time on my glider flights, more than any of the fancy navigators I sometimes take with me ...

Ah! And printed maps too, a road map where I marked the useful aeronautical chart info its actually my main navigation aid ...together with the compass... 🤩👌🤪

Edited May 30, 20242 yr by jcomm

11 hours ago, sd_flyer said:

Purpose of magnetic compass?  It's still part of Part 121.305 here in US (talking about airlines) Dual FMC as reliable as  Boing door that flew off or "impossible rare" dual engine failure of Challenger 604. Or wing that fell off from Piper Arrow during check ride at Embry Riddle (fresh out of annual ) There is nothing reliable in the world but pilot proficiency in fundamental flying skill - stick, rudder and dead reckoning. 

I mean how bad could it be with FADEC, and auto feather ? TransAsia airliner 235 anyone?

P.S. I had several full electrical failures  including one in IMC. And still I found compass  very handy. LOL

I also have experienced full electrical failure in IMC, at night, on departure, right after entering a very low ceiling in real world. My eyes started bouncing between that magnetic compass and standby attitude indicator really quick when it happened.

Back as a teenager with my first car. I purchased a hand held compass. There weren't gps devices in cars and I was every once and great while getting confused with twists and turns in the smaller city roads. 🙃I only needed it once in a while.