[ARC5] Video discussing the loss of the Lady Be Good

[Michael A. Bittner]

I completely understand the question, and volume level is a positive backup indication of whether you are flying to or from the station.  BTW, the WWII YG/ZB system that was used by naval aviators to find there way back to their carriers or bases was based entirely on hearing for both bearing information and to/from indication (no needles or visual indications of any kind).  Same thing goes for 4-course range stations.  The radio navigation manuals of the day instructed pilots and navigators to constantly adjust the volume when flying toward or away from a station so that there was always a clear indication of whether it was increasing or decreasing.  If you were taught to depend entirely on visual indicators, you missed a very important backup indicator.  As far as precise navigation goes with an NDB, volume is not useful, but if you hear the volume decreasing while you think you are flying toward the station, you should at least know that something is wrong and start thinking about doing a 180.
Mike, W6MAB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Francesco Ledda 
  To: Michael A. Bittner 
  Cc: <arc5 at mailman.qth.net> 
  Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 8:13 PM
  Subject: Re: [ARC5] Video discussing the loss of the Lady Be Good


  I am not sure if I understand your question, but the volume of the station is not used for navigation purpose.  The station passage is indicated by a needle reversal.  At the point, a timer is started and used to measure aprox distance.


  Sent from my iPad

  > On Dec 29, 2014, at 9:10 PM, Michael A. Bittner <mmab at cox.net> wrote:
  > 
  > If the needle is pointing backwards and the signal volume is decreasing, then how can you not know that you have overflown the station?
  > 1. Station is is turned off.
  > 2. Equipment in aircraft is damaged or otherwise not working.
  > 3. Crew wounded or for some other reason, not paying attention.
  > Mike, W6MAB
  >  ----- Original Message ----- 
  >  From: Francesco Ledda 
  >  To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net 
  >  Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 6:36 PM
  >  Subject: Re: [ARC5] Video discussing the loss of the Lady Be Good
  > 
  > 
  >  I don't know what they used during WW2, but with a regular NDB, the arrow in
  >  the indicator tells you if are going toward or away the station. A decent
  >  instrument pilot will know very quickly if there is crosswind, and how to
  >  correct.  I loved to do NDB approaches.....  yes, they can be dangerous if
  >  left to the inexpert, deadly if mistakes are made (American Airlines Flight
  >  965 Cali) but are great to improve piloting skills.
  > 
  >  BR,
  > 
  >  Frank 
  >  KF5RXB
  > 
  >  -----Original Message-----
  >  From: ARC5 [mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Michael A.
  >  Bittner
  >  Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 8:09 PM
  >  To: Robert Eleazer; arc5 at mailman.qth.net
  >  Subject: Re: [ARC5] Video discussing the loss of the Lady Be Good
  > 
  >  Nobody seems to have mentioned that the method for determining whether you
  >  are going toward or away from the station (both non-directional beacon and
  >  4-course range station) is to note the increase in volume going toward the
  >  station and decrease in volume going away.  Also the cone-of-silence when
  >  passing over the station.  I used both systems back in the 1950s during
  >  training and actual cross country trips in the Navy SNJ, SNB, PBM and T-28B.
  > 
  >  Mike, W6MAB
  >    ----- Original Message -----