GB2183833A - Navigational aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A navigational aid for aircraft, helicopters; microlights and gliders, has a baseboard -(26), a spacing strip -(27) a transparent top sheet (28) on which are four transparent discs -(29-14-3-2), and a card (25) with a cut hole with 360 DEG scales. An air chart is inserted, clips are then fixed to the sides. The baseboard has navigation information printed on back. A protractor is also provided and a time scale at the top. Small movable clips give time settings. The navigational aid is to be used with a current air chart, scale as required by pilot, which can be either 1:250.000-1:500.000 or for greater distance 1:1,000.000. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION True track visual navigational aid I, John William Cameron, do hereby declare an invention, for which I would wish a patent may be granted, and its method of opperation, to be described in and by the following text: The invention relates to a navigation aid being a square baseboard with transparent topsheet apon which are four transparent discs, giving calculations when rotated over scale representations of 360" printed on an interleaved card or plastic sheet between baseboard and top transparent sheet, with an airchart also inserted below interleaved card or plastic sheet, all of which enable the calculation and visual representation of a true track over an air-chart, wind angle in relation to track shown, runway direction in relation to track, and heading to steer representing aircraft direction indicator also a protractor to calculate true track flight-paths, the device being for Visual Flight Rules (to be copied hearafter as VFR) for flying with the earth surface in sight keeping clear of cloud and an in flight visibility of five (5 n.m.) VFR flights are carried out in daylight with the use of an air-chart, a True Track is drawn on the chart in the form of a line as the path in which the pilot wishes the aircraft to travel over the earths surface, wind ascesment is considered and drift is taken into account, distance of track is noted, times of flight considered, radio frequencies noted, and airfield runways, position of and runway in use, zone boundrys considered, all have to be noted on a flight-plan, and the air-chart being used, and any other information the pilot feels is required to carry out a safe flight, a VFR pilot may wish to note VORs in his flight plan (Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Radio Range) beacons, if the aircraft has such a radio aid on board, also if flying in local areas to home base field, may wish to note position on chart draw a line as a track-line and turn on a heading to base airfield.

According to the present invention their is now provided all of the aforementioned information in a visual method by a glance over a disc cut out on a card or plastic sheet and the disc laid over a current air-chart, disc edge having 360" segments and zone and flight information for area of chart exposed under disc, or disc with 360" segments only and no flight area information. A transparent sheet overlays disc upon which four transparent movable discs give, true track line, wind ascesment, airfield runway positions and heading to steer, also two slide markers or clips to give times of flight duration, a nautical mile scale rule to suit charts, a c.m. rule, and in addition a protractor.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings.

The following numbers and descriptions show the various parts and features that make up the navigational aid, as shown in Figs.

1-2-3 and 4 in full sheet layout format.

1. True Track cursor line. 2. Runway orientation disc, and 360" scale. 3. Wind direction disc, and 360" scale. 4. Distance bands. 5.

Airfield locators with relevant information. 6.

VOR position locators. 7. Tooth-edge, to allow ease of movement. 8. Hatch lines to show track heading into zones. 9. Sliding time markers. 10. Disc 360" markings only. 11.

Nautical Mile scale rule. 12. Flight board clip.

13. Flight time scale. 14. Heading to steer disc, and 360" scale. 15. 360" scale. 16. c.m.

rule scale on flight board clip. 17. Homing base field position hole, and eyelet. 18. Flight log panel. 19. Airchart. 20. Information panel.

21. Flights note panels. 22. Eyelets, or plastic studs. 23. Cross-Country arc, for pre-flight and in-flight notes. 24. Protractors. 25. Disc card. 26. Baseboard. 27. Spacer strip to allow for chart thickness. 28. Transparent top sheet.

29. Cursor disc with distance rings. 30. Flight information disc.

In order to use the navigational aid, choose from disc information (30) where you wish to visit or land, this applies to airfield designated discs, or to chart feature if using plain disc with 360" scale only. (10). Place the cursor (1) at location and a true-track is laid over the chart (19). To note wind direction in relation to track, a direction indicator disc is provided on right-hand top corner of flight board (3).

Hatch lines on outer edge of disc show track heading towards zone (8). The shorter cursor line gives reciprical to track flown (1). cursor also gives a true-track from any point on chart to homing airfield, strip, or site, the cursor behind giving the reciprical. The disc provided at the left-hand top corner (2) will indicate runway direction to track flown, move pointer to runway understood for landing, the landing pattern will then be visual in relation to track flown. Clips three of (11) (12) and (16) are to hold, disc, topsheet and chart in position 11 and 16 have a nautical mile scale rule and a c.m. scale rule. Two time scales and time clips are provided at top of flight board (9) and (13). Heading to steer disc (14) can be set as visual aid allowing for drift in relation to wind indicator disc (3).

The true-track protractor (24) can be used for checking alignment of chart (19) on kneeboard which can also be called flight board, which is in fact also the baseboard of the navigational aid (26) and for use to check the true track of second leg of a three leg crosscountry. To ascertain this, position edge of protractor through centre of hole (17) over homing airfield, strip or site, using the ruled lines on the protractor to run parallel with track drawn on chart before insertion in flight board, or, alternatively, with a chinagraph pencil track line drawn on transparent top sheet (28) under cursor disc (29) (the chart, of course, having already been inserted in the knee-board). (26) If for any reason the pilot wishes to return to home base during second leg of flight, for example, bad weather etc., at any point along this track, maintain heading note feature ahead on chart (19) for turn, move track line cursor (1) to position overhead feature chosen and, when overhead make turn onto heading shown by cursor over 360" scale (15) and allow for wind as shown on wind disc (3) which should be set before take-off, you have now a track home

Claims (7)

1. What I Claim is: A visual representative navigational aid comprising a flat card or plastic sheet in the form of a square with a centre hole cut out to form a disc with a 360" scale to it's edge (which may or may not also have further information given, relating to flight guidance). A time scale to top right and lefthand position, and three 360" scales to top right and lefthand corner and bottom lefthand corner positions (an air chart would be positioned under this disc) to be known as a truetrack homing disc.

2. A navigation aid as claimed in Claim 1, in which to wherein relevant information is displayed such as, airfield distance from homing airfield, strip, or site. Radio frequencies.

Runway threshold numbers, Gliding sites, Para areas, Helicopter pads, Microlight sites. VOR positions. Zone areas marked by hatch band around and above 360" scale and Zone information above hatch band or within it, and any other information as space allows, the information given on these discs are applying to a designated airfield, and airfield information is also given, and the discs coded for reference.

3. A navigation aid as claimed in Claim 1 and 2, necessitating a baseboard on which to lay folded chart, on top of which is laid the true track homing disc above which is a transparent sheet, upon which are four transparent discs, all of which can be rotated 360" to give readings of True Track. Wind direction.

Runway position, and Heading to steer, and on top edge sliding markers to record time, as minutes past the hour GMT. three clips at sides, and lower edge hold the whole together.

4. A navigation aid as claimed in Claim 3, on the back of which there are four panels, one to carry flight information, a second to provide a flight log, and a third and forth for flight notes, weather reports, and a crosscountry erc to the top of the top panels, for the Log and Plan of the flight, the surface is to be laminated if of a card substance, or it can be of plastic card.

5. A navigation aid as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3, in which can be used a protractor, for measurement and calculation of true-track of any leg of flight not starting or finishing at centre point or homing airfield, strip or site, comprising a 360" scale, parallel lines for track alignment, and a nautical mile scale.

6. A navigation aid as claimed in Claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, two sizes are designed two give two options. One size gives a baseboard size of 15-41,,x 152" with a disc giving chart coverage up to 90 nautical miles across, and a baseboard size of 1 1"x 11" with a disc giving chart coverage up to 60 nautical miles across. With a protrector to suit each size.

7. A navigation aid to be known as a True-Track. Homing Disc, substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in sheet form and as Figures Numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4.