Colonel Don Blakeslee - He led the 4th Fighter Group across Germany and Eastern Europe using only a map on his kneee and a watch. (See the Daily Telegraph report below.)These are the main pointers:
- Plan the route meticulously.
- Check for gross errors.
- Keep the markings on your route to a sensible minimum (K.I.S.).
- 6 minute marks, or ½ and ¼ and ¾ marks, or time marks at major features.
- Possibly mark the Track and Distance at the start point of each leg.
- Consider marking the wind direction and speed in green.
- Mentally note the major geographical features on the route.
- Mentally note the ATZs, MATZs, CTRs, CTZs, AIAAs, Restricted Areas and Danger Areas on your route – or make notes on your Navigation Log + Radio Frequencies.
- Brakes OFF – Airborne – Landed – Brakes ON spaces are useful on the Nav Log.
BUT KEEP IT SIMPLE! The normal priorities always apply and this includes Pilot Navigation. Aviate – Navigate – Communicate.
Make every effort to be organised in the cockpit. Do not spend more time than is absolutely necessary looking at your chart. LOOKOUT is absolutely important and the rule Lookout – Attitude – Instruments applies here as it does in all regimes of flight.
Accurate Pilot Navigation is dependent on two main factors:
These are:
· HEADING DISCIPLINE
· CHRONO DISCIPLINE
Have faith in your meticulous planning. Have faith in the met winds and temperature. Clock and Heading will get you there.
(About a hundred years ago I used to fly twin-piston aircraft over the South African bush. Clock and Heading over large distances always worked.)
CHRONO: At TAKE-OFF start the CHRONO and anticipate each TURNING POINT. ZERO the Chrono a few seconds before the T.P.
and START the Chrono exactly overhead the TURNING POINT.
HEADING: Concentrate on maintaining the HEADING accurately. This is best achieved by utilising a ground feature in the ‘far’ distance as an aiming point which lines up with your heading. Lookout – Attitude – Instruments. DO NOT FLY WITH YOUR EYES ‘INSIDE’.
Make every effort to be organised in the cockpit. Do not spend more time than is absolutely necessary looking at your chart. LOOKOUT is absolutely important and the rule Lookout – Attitude – Instruments applies here as it does in all regimes of flight.
Accurate Pilot Navigation is dependent on two main factors:
These are:
· HEADING DISCIPLINE
· CHRONO DISCIPLINE
Have faith in your meticulous planning. Have faith in the met winds and temperature. Clock and Heading will get you there.
(About a hundred years ago I used to fly twin-piston aircraft over the South African bush. Clock and Heading over large distances always worked.)
CHRONO: At TAKE-OFF start the CHRONO and anticipate each TURNING POINT. ZERO the Chrono a few seconds before the T.P.
and START the Chrono exactly overhead the TURNING POINT.HEADING: Concentrate on maintaining the HEADING accurately. This is best achieved by utilising a ground feature in the ‘far’ distance as an aiming point which lines up with your heading. Lookout – Attitude – Instruments. DO NOT FLY WITH YOUR EYES ‘INSIDE’.
Part of the Daily Telegraph obituary of Colonel Don Blakeslee - printed Saturday 27th September 2008
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