Hello,
Some people will tell me to return to my books but I tried and don't find the answer (and in the forum neither). 😉
I will put basis :
- Heading is the direction of the nose of the airplane (North Geographic or Magnetic)
- Track is the direction of the airplane regarding wind and other factor
- Bearing is the angle between the heading and something using North as reference.
So based on that on the instruments interface what I understand :
- Track to next Waypoint : direction to follow from the previous waypoint to the next one
- Bearing to next Waypoint : direction to follow from your position to the next Waypoint.
- Heading to Waypoint : this is where I have a problem : what is this direction ?
Could you help me on this ?
Another question regarding the vector in front of the plane during flight : Is the graduation in minutes ? (there is the 10miles distance indicator but for the rest...)
Some informations are missing on the QuickStart guide that will be really helpful for new users or beginners.
Thank you for your help.
Hi Arnoud,
Don't worry, these definitions are always sources for confusion.
Heading is the direction of the nose of the airplane (North Geographic or Magnetic)
correct. Regarding your question about "heading to waypoint", this will not be available in 99.99% of all EasyVFR4 users because the actual heading is not known. Only a hand full of EV users who have equipment that transmits the current heading also to EV4 will see something other then N/A for this.
- Track is the direction of the airplane regarding wind and other factor
correct
- Bearing is the angle between the heading and something using North as reference.
Correct, but its not how EasyVFR uses it there is a second definition for bearing : we use relative bearing (not using North as reference, but using current track as reference) (see https://flyandwire.com/2020/09/27/back-to-basics-heading-bearing-track-and-course/).
Thank you Rob for the fast answer.
I saw for the Heading (N/A)
Correct, but its not how EasyVFR uses it there is a second definition for bearing : we use relative bearing (not using North as reference, but using current track as reference)
Ok so "bearing to Waypoint" is the angle I have to "turn" to go to my Waypoint.
It will be useful to create the ""real" Bearing" instrument as it's easier to report on a compas.
And so what about the "Heading to waypoint" as I have N/A for the "Heading" but I have a value for "Heading to waypoint" ?
Do you want I open another topics for the "speed vector" ?
Thank you.
Sorry that I missed the question about the speed vector :blush:. The total length of the speed vector represents 10 minutes, and each marker on it 2 minutes.
De "Heading to next waypoint" is the calculated heading taking wind forecast and magnetic variation into account. Its a "best guess" value to the user since the wind component is from a forecast only.
The Heading on the instrument ribbon is a representation of the actual heading, if received from the external device.
Thanks no problem ! 😉
So for example in my last navigation of yesterday
TRK : is the actual direction of my plane.
DTK Next : is the direction I had to follow if I was on the planned route.
HDG next : is the direction I have to take on my compas based on the wind and other factors to arrive to my next waypoint (with regards that the wind forecast can be false especially in my area due to mountain)
BRG next : is the direction I have to take in a perfect world without wind.
Am I right ?
Correct, but its not how EasyVFR uses it there is a second definition for bearing : we use relative bearing (not using North as reference, but using current track as reference)
On this view I attach it looks like that the Bearing Next is based on North and not on the current track of my plane (which is better in my opinion).
Other question, the wind and forecast information we can see on the screen are calculated for the actual flight altitude or for another altitude ?
Thank you.
On this view I attach it looks like that the Bearing Next is based on North and not on the current track of my plane (which is better in my opinion)
I must apologize, you are correct. The numeric value "Brg Next" is indeed based on north. There is another instrument with "Bearing" ("Bearing, EET, DIST to Next) but now in graphical version, that one is relative bearing :
Other question, the wind and forecast information we can see on the screen are calculated for the actual flight altitude or for another altitude ?
Thank you.
As far as I can tell everywhere the planned altitude for each leg on the route is taken. But if you can show me a screenshot I can be more precise.
EDIT: I had a look at your original screenshot, and notice now there are windbarbs on it too. These windbarbs are based on the forecasted wind at 2000ft AGL.
Thank you. That's great. A good combination of two things, numerical value for the "Bearing nett " based on North and the arrow. Now it's very clear to me.
Ok for the wind. Is there a way to parameter the altitude for the forecast because as you can see I was flying 7500ft and so wind can be really different and ground level . Sometimes we can also see forecast on the VPV (not on this screenshot) and it's also useful to know if we will encounter better forecast in another altitude.
Good evening.
