What's a good magnetic compass?

[EatSleepFly]

lol, reading back on my post, I really did word it wrong...

I don't want a cessna compass or anything aircraft worthy, I just wanted a cheapo plastic something to throw in the car

I was going to buy a magnetic compass very similar to the one that is in planes like a Cessna 172.

So which is it?

 

[squale]

I just meant a spherical compass, not like a flat one that come in handheld compasses while walking through the woods or something.

I am talking about the shape being similar to what is in the Cessna, NOT actually going out and buying a Cessna compass...

 

[mar]

*Do* try this at home

Squale--I agree, the mag compass can be a little confusing. Try this:

Take a styrofoam cup and turn it upside down. Label all eight of the cardinal compass points (There are eight right? N NE E SE S SW W NW). Then stick a pencil up into the cup piercing the bottom so that the cup can balance on the point of the pencil.

Next you'll need to be familiar with "dip error." You can probably do a search on the internet if you're not already familiar with it.

Basically you need to know that the magnet will try to align itself with the Earth's magnetic lines of flux. Greater error near the poles; almost none near the equator.

Anyway, once you're familiar with why the compass behaves the way it does you can "simulate" the turning and the acceleration errors on the styrofoam cup.

Save this exercise for when you're a kick-ass CFI.

Good luck.

 

[FN FAL]

If you put a compass in your car, you will have to have your car degaussed to get the compass to indicate accurately.

 

[squale]

OH **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**.. tha'ts right, I forget about that... the electronics in the car will **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** up the magnetic compass.. I forgot that the magnetic compass in planes is calibrated already for this electronic interference errors... oh well.. forget that idea... lol

 

[pilotman2105]

OH **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**.. tha'ts right, I forget about that... the electronics in the car will **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** up the magnetic compass.. I forgot that the magnetic compass in planes is calibrated already for this electronic interference errors... oh well.. forget that idea... lol

Not to mention that you'll be so focused on that d*mn compass that you'll forget your driving a car and run into something.

Jumping into aviation with two feet is admirable, but get real and take everything in stride.

 

[skyking1976]

Not to mention that you'll be some focused on that d*mn compass that you'll forget your driving a car and run into something.

Isn't that what cruise control is made for?

 

[TonyC]

Re: Perhaps I can help with this one...

It has long been my experience that the very best ones generally point NORTH. There are some cheap imitations out there so you need to be very carefull in your shopping.

Don't let a slick saleman talk you into one of those other compasses.

Be very carefull out there. This is a big decision, your future hangs in the balance.

Best of luck.

I knew this one guy... (might've gone to band camp...) who got one of those cheap knockoff compasses that didn't quite point north... wound up going on I-40 westbound instead of I-55 Northbound - - he was looking for St. Louis but found Little Rock instead... never heard from him again...

You're right, Sherriff... it could be a matter of life or death.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

You should consider putting training related threads in the “training” section.

You really don't need to do what you're considering; it'll come along.

Fly safe,
TA

 

[ShawnC]

Isn't that what cruise control is made for?

I remember a law suit a while back. Where a dude in his big honking RV sets cruise control and goes back to make himself a cup of coffee.

Needless to say a wreck happens, and the RV is totaled.

So he sues the RV company for saying it wasn't in the manual that you couldn't do that. He won, got himself a new RV, and a load of cash. Everyone got a manual with a stupid warning on it.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

I remember a law suit a while back. Where a dude in his big honking RV sets cruise control and goes back to make himself a cup of coffee.

Needless to say a wreck happens, and the RV is totaled.

So he sues the RV company for saying it wasn't in the manual that you couldn't do that. He won, got himself a new RV, and a load of cash. Everyone got a manual with a stupid warning on it.

This is some interesting stuff.

 

[pilotman2105]

See the frivolous lawsuite thread that is going on elsewhere.

It's amazing what people can get if they go to court...

 

[Wiggums]

You're going to need an all aluminum car in order for this to work correctly. I recommend an Audi A8, and make sure you get the plate on the back to say 777-DRVR. Also, you're going to need the hold computer from Sporty's...there is no way you can live without it.

Good Luck.

 

[FN FAL]

make sure you get the plate on the back to say 777-DRVR. Also, you're going to need the hold computer from Sporty's...there is no way you can live without it

I just read in FLYING magazine that sporty's now has handsome window decals for your cat that indicate your position in aviation.

They read something like "FAA Certified Airline Transport Pilot"
or mechanic or commercial pilot or inspector.

 

[TonyC]

I just read in FLYING magazine that sporty's now has handsome window decals for your cat that indicate your position in aviation.

They read something like "FAA Certified Airline Transport Pilot"
or mechanic or commercial pilot or inspector.

Do they have 'em for dogs, too? I mean, it seems like more pilots are dog people than cat people. At least that's the impression I've gotten. On the other hand, perhaps they've done those focus group marketing studies and determined that only the cat-lovers would buy the window decals. Who knows...

Do they break 'em out by breed?

 

[wms]

Are you kidding? No self-respecting dog would have a window decal. They make those little antenna flags for them.

 

[wms]

I remember a law suit a while back. Where a dude in his big honking RV sets cruise control and goes back to make himself a cup of coffee.

Oh...You can't do that?

 

[FN FAL]

Hahaha...you know those stickers the obnoxious people put on their pickup truck rear windows with the kid taking a leak on a chevy or a ford...they'd make millions if they had that same kid in the sticker taking a leak on various regionals. That way the Mesaba kid would be taking a leak on the Comair plane...etc etc etc...

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

Hahaha...you know those stickers the obnoxious people put on their pickup truck rear windows with the kid taking a leak on a chevy or a ford...they'd make millions if they had that same kid in the sticker taking a leak on various regionals. That way the Mesaba kid would be taking a leak on the Comair plane...etc etc etc...

That is a good idea! Or piss on PFT!

 

[Big Duke Six]

I just read in FLYING magazine that sporty's now has handsome window decals for your cat

But they don't tell you that you have to use the naked cats, you know, the inside-out ones. How many people have those? C'mon! What a scam