timer or stopwatch for IFR flying
jsst...@usa.net
stopwatch". This is for procedure turns, etc. The planes we fly in are
rentals, sort of, and don't have all the equipment that I'd put in a
plane for IFR flight (although some are quite nicely equiped). In
short, I can't count on a timer in the cockpit.
What do you use and what features are important? A stopwatch I can
wear around my neck (realtively easy to find), but will only time one
thing (with splits). I can get an inexpensive kitchen timer with
multiple timing capability, that I can clip on my kneeboard. More
complicated, but hving it beep when I should change something might be
good. I just don't have any idea.
John Stevens
PP-ASEL, IR student
gatt
<jsst...@usa.net> wrote in message news:dcabe685-7ce2-4c95-8024-
> What do you use and what features are important? A stopwatch I can
> wear around my neck (realtively easy to find), but will only time one
> thing (with splits). I can get an inexpensive kitchen timer with
> multiple timing capability, that I can clip on my kneeboard.
Radio Shack sells one like this:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/Full/SC670482.jpg and Sporty's has a similar
one.
It has count-up, count-down and most importantly, it has the numeric keypad
so you can punch in numbers quickly.
The two-button ones aren't as useful.
I have a yoke-mount IFR plate holder, so I just Velcroed the timer to the
top of the clip. It's always right there above the yoke and only cost
about $20.
-c
Mark Hansen
John,
I found that the only thing I really needed was a count-up timer and an
easy way to reset it back to zero. If you have a timer that can count down
and sound an alarm, then you have to set the initial value before you can
use it. In some cases, this might not seem too bad, but during training, the
timer values that I was getting were always different.
I found it much easer to just use a single count-up timer, and keep an
eye on it. If I know that my approach needs to go missed by 3:23, then I
just wait for the timer to hit 3:23 and off I go.
I did buy the ASA flight timer before I knew this, but I still find it
useful. For IFR flight, I just use the simple count-up timer. The device
has a nice big Start/Stop button on the top which is real easy to hit.
The only complaint is that to reset it, you have to hit a pretty small
button on the face of it.
By the way, I made a large Velcro strap so that I would be able to
strap the timer to my arm, above where I wear my watch. It make it very
easy to see and manipulate.
That is my experience, for what it's worth.
--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane, USUA Ultralight Pilot
Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
Sacramento, CA
Bertie the Bunyip
5083b4...@s13g2000prd.googlegroups.com:
Simpler the better. You want to know what time you took off, and you can
use the airplane's clock for that, and you want to time legs of holds, time
to the missed approach point and what not and you will only be doing those
one at a time so you don't really need the split capability. Simple to
operate. you should be able to get it going without looking at it if
possible ( or at least only a quick glance) And it should be easy to see.
An analog watch with good old fahioned hands, relatively large in size with
clearly visible hand.
Oh and there used to be nurses ones that were upside down, so you didn;'t
have to turn them around if they were hanging around your neck.
Bertie
Don Byrer
> I can get an inexpensive kitchen timer with
>multiple timing capability, that I can clip on my kneeboard. More
>complicated, but hving it beep when I should change something might be
>good. I just don't have any idea.
Yep, Sportys sells a triple timer that works well. Works even better
if you buy the exact same timer in the kitchen section at Walmart or
Target' for half the price. (sunbeam?)
That's what I used; worked well for me. only minor problem was the
beeps not being REAL loud with headsets on.
--Don
Don Byrer KJ5KB
Radar Tech & Smilin' Commercial Pilot Guy
Glider & CFI wannabe
kj5kb-at-hotmail.com
"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without bending the gear..."
"Watch out for those doves...<smack-smack-smack-smack...>"
Ed
IFR I have not touched it. The Garmin system I fly now in the Cirrus
has it built it... Don't spend to much for one.
John Godwin
news:24a04074-1095-4da9...@i12g2000prf.googlegroups.co
m:
> Our plane does have a clock but it is off to the co-pilot side
> thus making it hard to read. I wear a simple analog watch with
> huge number and second hand and do use it whenever I forgot to
> bring the ASA Flight Timer. It is much easier to look at the ASA
> Flight Timer which we velcro to the center of the yoke.
After reading the POH for our particular airplane, it states that a
chronograph be mounted on the pilot's yoke. Lo and behold it's
permanently attached.
Ya gotta love the French :-)
--
Jack Allison
Wal-Mart. Three timers can count up or down plus a clock. One timer is
used for switching fuel tanks, one gets used for IFR stuff in count up
mode for holds and count down mode for timing from FAF to MAP. I don't
use the third timer. Having something that beeps was important. I like
the count down feature but would say it's not absolutely necessary.
I use a yoke clip for my approach plates and the timer is attached to
the clip with velcro. I've found this setup to work well.
--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-Instrument Airplane
Student - CP-ASEL
"To become a Jedi knight, you must master a single force. To become
a private pilot you must strive to master four of them"
- Rod Machado
(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)
Airbus
panel avionics as well. Many boxes have timer features built-in, that you
can call up with a shortcut button or menu. The Bendix-King ADF you'll
find on all those NAV1 Cessnas has a great timer feature! If you've got one
of those, sometimes the ADF even comes in handy. . .
In article <A6mdnU3weMT5sAHa...@comcast.com>,
k2boar...@rem0ve.th1s.gmail.com says...
Ed
Airbus wrote:
> Look into the operator's manual (if you can still find it) for some of the
> panel avionics as well. Many boxes have timer features built-in, that you
> can call up with a shortcut button or menu. The Bendix-King ADF you'll
> find on all those NAV1 Cessnas has a great timer feature! If you've got one
> of those, sometimes the ADF even comes in handy. . .
>>I found a $6 West Bend kitchen timer in the Aviation department at
>>Wal-Mart. Three timers can count up or down plus a clock. One timer is
>>used for switching fuel tanks, one gets used for IFR stuff in count up
>>mode for holds and count down mode for timing from FAF to MAP. I don't
>>use the third timer. Having something that beeps was important. I like
ADFs are great.... for finding the t-storms if you don't have a WX500.....
"Aviation Department at Walmart"... now that is some funny sh__ no
matter who you are....
Dallas
> What do you use and what features are important? A stopwatch I can
> wear around my neck
I can tell you that a sports stopwatch around your neck is a bad idea.
First it seems to get fouled up with your headset cord often. If you turn
and lean to get something out of the back seat it swings all over the
place.
My CFI said, "You'd better hope that doesn't catch on something if you have
to get out of the airplane quickly." Point taken.
--
Dallas
gatt
"Ed" <e...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:2T_mj.66829$N67....@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
>>>I found a $6 West Bend kitchen timer in the Aviation department at
>>>Wal-Mart.
> "Aviation Department at Walmart"... now that is some funny sh__ no matter
> who you are....
Yeah, I didn't even catch it the first time around. Next thing you know
they'll be carrying the Skycatcher.
-c
Jack Allison
> "Aviation Department at Walmart"... now that is some funny sh__ no
> matter who you are....
>
Heh...gotta give credit where credit is due. This is a slightly
different version of "Yeah, I picked one up at the aircraft parts
department in Orchard Supply & Hardware". He's building an RV-6. Hmmm,
come to think of it, we did go to Orchard Supply the first time we were
looking for material for replacing the striker plate on the oil door of
the Arrow.
Marty Shapiro
news:a7SdnU3sW4lUIwPa...@comcast.com:
> Ed wrote:
>
>> "Aviation Department at Walmart"... now that is some funny sh__ no
>> matter who you are....
>>
> Heh...gotta give credit where credit is due. This is a slightly
> different version of "Yeah, I picked one up at the aircraft parts
> department in Orchard Supply & Hardware". He's building an RV-6. Hmmm,
> come to think of it, we did go to Orchard Supply the first time we were
> looking for material for replacing the striker plate on the oil door of
> the Arrow.
>
That's Orchard Aircraft Supply!
--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.
(remove SPAMNOT to email me)