Dead Reckoning Calculator

[mwilson]

This showed up on Marketplace the other day for $10.00. We know the gent that had it for sale.
Asked the wife to speak for it which she did. Picked it up tonight. Now to see if I can learn it..

 

[mwilson]

I think the stamp in red says..

“Sheffield School of Aeronautics”
“Miami 48, Florida”

 

[AH64ID]

I’ve used E6B’a but not that specific model.

Planning to do some flying?

 

[mwilson]

I’ve used E6B’a but not that specific model.

Planning to do some flying?

Have read about Dead Reckoning over the years and figured this would be a good chance to figure it out. I learn better hands on...

You never know what the future could bring....

 

[mwilson]

The school still exists!! Since 1948!!

https://www.sheffield.com/

 

[Wayne M.]

Mike, my partner at work flies. I can arrange a chat if you’d like.

 

[mwilson]

Starting out with ground speed versus air speed..

 

[Wayne M.]

Let me bounce it off him in the AM. Shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[mwilson]

I was handed the controls of a small plane when I was 11 years old by my Uncle while in flight over the Coast of Maine. What a feeling!!! It was only 15 minutes or so but I never forgot it.
I wish I could remember the stats, I think it was a Cessna. He had just flown it from California to Maine while on vacation.
I vaguely remember him explaining the flight plan, fuel stops, etc..
He worked for Lockheed and would never discuss what he did there. As I got older I suspected he was at Skunkworks, but only my theory...
Smart guy with an air of mystery...

 

[mwilson]

We visited out there in the mid 60’s, he had all the cool stuff.

Grapefruit trees in the back yard...

A huge antenna tower in the back yard...Ham radio I think..

A powered projector screen that rolled down in the living room.

A Chevy Corvair pickup that he only drove into San Fransisco once because it wouldn’t climb the hills on that single trip, not enough power..

 

[mwilson]

That was also back when there were subtle differences in household appliances from East Coast to West Coast so everything looked a bit strange to this kid from Maine..

Aunt had a Honda car, that was mighty strange to me as well. Early Civic I think..

 

[Tractorat]

Ive got one of those down in the garage somewhere from when I used to fly maybe 35 or 40 years ago. My log book and some other stuff is with it. I think I might try and dig it out and see if I can still remember how to use it.

 

[TFucili]

I was handed the controls of a small plane when I was 11 years old by my Uncle while in flight over the Coast of Maine. What a feeling!!! It was only 15 minutes or so but I never forgot it.
I wish I could remember the stats, I think it was a Cessna. He had just flown it from California to Maine while on vacation.
I vaguely remember him explaining the flight plan, fuel stops, etc..
He worked for Lockheed and would never discuss what he did there. As I got older I suspected he was at Skunkworks, but only my theory...
Smart guy with an air of mystery...

This brings back some vivid memories for me, as I also had an uncle that flew, and I can still remember the excitement when the phone would ring, and he would ask if I wanted to go for a ride. Somwhere I have an 8mm(Super 8)reel with me climbing up on the wing of a Cherokee. Good times!

 

[GAmes]

I found my old one not long ago, buried with other trinkets of the past. I know that I don't remember how to use it. Mike, think of it as a circular slide rule.

 

[jhenderson]

It’s much like a slide rule in the fact that it’s capable of complex calculations. Just the basics will get you through flight school, but some folks are truly proficient with it. All the basic instructions are printed directly on the E6B. Unfortunately, a panel mount gps has rendered them all but forgotten.

 

[DavidC]

Being slide rules built the SR-71 it was quite the acheivement.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Never was exposed to your Dead reconnecting system the NAME ALONE was reason enough to find a different method. My Boy Scout Leaders were Navy and brought their own ideas of what to use. I had an Uncle who worked for the USGS in Colorado that checked topo maps for accuracy that taught me the use of Map & compass.


Since each estimate of position is relative to the previous one, errors are cumulative. The accuracy of dead reckoning can be increased significantly by using other, more reliable methods to get a new fix part way through the journey.

This is the old school used in the Montana wilds
https://www.davisinstruments.com/product/mark-15-sextant/

https://www.rei.com/product/652898/...ViZ-zCh3qhAX_EAQYAiABEgLY8fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


Sounds Fun though!!

 

[Jim W]

That was my thought also a circular slide rule.
I still have mine stored with my drafting equipment left over from when I work. I pulled my circular slide rule out last year for my oldest granddaughter, who is in highschool taking advance math. She did not know what it was nor how to even work even a slip stick. I guess the high schools don't teach students how to use one anymore.

 

[mwilson]

Since each estimate of position is relative to the previous one, errors are cumulative.

I kinda figured that might be the case, get a little bit more off course each time..

 

[Tractorat]

Never was exposed to your Dead reconnecting system the NAME ALONE was reason enough to find a different method. My Boy Scout Leaders were Navy and brought their own ideas of what to use. I had an Uncle who worked for the USGS in Colorado that checked topo maps for accuracy that taught me the use of Map & compass.

What you are talking about is of little use to a flyer and visa versa. The calculator in question is typically used with an av chart and gives useful info to a pilot.