Reply To: Air Navigation

[manxcat]

J DavHuston
I find this subject interesting… likewise to your Email reply to my previous questions. I am going to research your Email (below) and follow the links you’ve provided one-by-one.
I became interested in celestial navigation because of the many Amelia Earhart books that I was reading awhile back. I was going to attempt using one of the surplus bubble-octants that are for sale on the Internet. Ultimately, I didn’t go for it; and so, I am pulling for you in your practicing on the A-12. Maybe I can help you in your research? For example, have you ever seen the Web-pages of Gary LaPook? Mr. LaPook seems to be very knowledgeable about aerial celestial navigation and has done actual celnav while in flight a number of times. What made me think of Gary LaPook was when you wrote about the “dancing bubble” using a bubble-octant. In one of LaPooks many posts he describes the difficulty of getting a accurate sight with the ‘bubble’ constantly in motion from the engine vibration. His answer is to take ten sights on each celestial body, using a bubble-Octant with an “averager” attachment. He uses the number ten because of the simplicity of completing the math. I think he wrote that he can perform ten sights and do the chart work in two minutes with the averager and in three minutes without the averager attachment. 4 times 2 = equals 8 minutes [plus change] for getting readings on 4 celestial bodies? or 4 times 3 = 12 minutes without the averager?

https://sites.google.com/site/fredienoonan/

LaPook is also the resident celnav expert for the Stratus Project:

LaPook-Stratus Project

I’ll send a reply to your Email in a few days. Have a Nice Day & Good Luck,
–Joseph