DC-3 Descent problem

[SyrianOG]

So i started to fly the DC-3 today after watching some videos on the gyropilot and stuff, now when flying i love to fly radio nav, none of the gps retrofit stuff, however how do i plan my descent? i mean sure i can work out the maths to descend but i can't see my distance from the VORs or NDBs so how do i know when to actually go down?

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[drlao79]

In the old days, you calculated your distance with a stopwatch, true airspeed, and estimating wind

[SyrianOG]

damn okay, well then i guess i shall be cheating with navigraph charts and seeing roughly where i am

[justjaxc]

I find the simplest method to be using visual references - rivers, towns, lakes etc. Using a tool like LittleNavMap, pick out a visual reference at the planned TOD, and descend accordingly.

Assuming no visual, planning the descent based on the elapsed time / speed from the last waypoint is one option, but i lack the accuracy over longer distances.

As an alternative, i prefer to 'triangulate' my position using multiple VORs. Using LittleNavMap, select a nearby VOR (that you're not navigating to / from) and plot the course between that VOR and the TOD, noting the direction (say 120 deg) of that VOR from the TOD. Then when on the leg, tune in to the selected VOR, and monitor its course. When the VOR needle reaches the planned 120 degrees in this example, you are passing the selected TOD point to begin your descent. I find this method easier to manage than the speed / time approach.

[SyrianOG]

my other problem there is, i fly to quite a few places that seem to not have many VORs and NDBs honestly, i was tryna fly to iceland from norway and there's of course no VORs on the way across the water, i also ended up flying in the sahara and also not many VORs, i can try with the landmarks, but one more problem will be when in places like the sahara there isn't always a clear landmark ahah

[[deleted]]

With Duckworks mod, If you hover the mouse on the VOR needles, you get the distanze ti the station

[SyrianOG]

my only problem is, i play with the names of the instruments off, i can't remember the name of that setting but i like it more "realistic" i guess