Spitfire II Directional Gyro

[greybeard_52]

As shown in the attached images, I for sure just reached French coast, coming from England, direction South-East, but directional Gyro indicates something between 330 and 360 degree, if I'm not wrong.?

[OBT-Mikmak]

Directional gyro should be set before take off and regularly during flight (every 15 min).

It is an instrument that drifts over time.

 

 

Edited July 14, 2021 by OBT-Mikmak

[greybeard_52]

Realism of this sim is astonishing! Thank you! Well done and instructive video!

[Sokol1]

You are heading 135º, so for French coast, as see in the compass in "Wonder Woman View".

 

The Directional Gyro in Briths cockpits is only reliable if it is - manually, synchronized with the Compass, a task that the lack of "Lubber Line" in the compass does not help.

 

Spoiler

 

 

The linked video in spoiler show how make this synchronization, and too why my disappointment with the lack of "Lubber Line" in game British compass.

 

BTW - The (P-8) compass  in British cockpits don't allow direct reading of heading, like you see in the fantasy version in "Wonder Woman View".

It's  because (P-8) compass it's derived from naval compass.

 

 

Edited July 14, 2021 by Sokol1

[greybeard_52]

Thanks Sokol1, your answers are always solid and rich in content. Unfortunately in my country I am not allowed to see the content of the video you propose to me, but I agree with the problem, adding that, personally, it is impossible for me to carry out this complex alignment operation because I cannot see the compass! Perhaps I will be able to do it with the pseudo-compass of the "Wonder Woman View", but access to the adjustment knob of the gyro compass, to be carried out in flight, is impossible for me since I only have two hands! As for the analogous case of the Hurricane, the problem does not arise because the gyro compass is invisible, completely hidden by the cloche.

[greybeard_52]

17 hours ago, Sokol1 said:

The Directional Gyro in Briths cockpits is only reliable if it is - manually, synchronized with the Compass

I think I figured out how to perform this task: I can only do it before take off, while the engine is warming up, in the parking area. After setting the magnetic compass and reading the direction, I copy it into the gyroscopic compass. The latter kept it quite well throughout the flight, without further corrections.

[Sokol1]

13 hours ago, greybeard_52 said:

 Unfortunately in my country I am not allowed to see the content of the video you propose to me, 

 

Curious this "censorship" it's a YouTube video, called "RAF Low Flying Navigation PART 1/2 rare archival footage" at 7:09 show how synchronize Directional Gyro with Compass, informally referred as "Red on Red".

 

Quote

I think I figured out how to perform this task: I can only do it before take off, while the engine is warming up, in the parking area. After setting the magnetic compass and reading the direction, I copy it into the gyroscopic compass. The latter kept it quite well throughout the flight, without further corrections.

 

Yes, is this, but eventually you will need do this again during flight, due the instruments drift, and specially after maneuvers under G.

 

Unfortunately this unnecessarily difficult due lack of a "glance at compass" command, like the "Glance at dashboard" (instrument panel), for check the actual heading in compass, unless you use the "Wonder Woman Vision" panel, what is not available in some online server.

Edited July 15, 2021 by Sokol1

[Buzzsaw]

As has been mentioned here, you should always set your compass and gyroscope before takeoff.

 

We will look at adding a 'Glance at compass' view in the future.

[Havana]

How can I set the control of the directional gyro and the rotation of the compass glass to my joystick buttons / sliders? I'm not able to locate a keybind for the compass or the directional gyro. Thanks

[Fall_Blau]

5 hours ago, PetrifiedDoubleG said:

How can I set the control of the directional gyro and the rotation of the compass glass to my joystick buttons / sliders? I'm not able to locate a keybind for the compass or the directional gyro. Thanks

When you have controller options opened in the sim look in the top left corner, you have 2 menus, Keys and Axes. Neither of these controls can be bound to an axis, only a key.

 

Click on Keys in the top left, then under category choose aircraft, and almost to the bottom of the list after the engine stuff you will see it.

You want Course Setter Increase and Decrease and Directional Gyro Increase and Decrease.

 

Idk what kind of joystick you have but usually sliders are only recognized as an Axis. If you have other knobs or rotary encoders those can function as keys. Personally I find it easiest to use keyboard, - and = for course setter, ; and ' for DG. You can hold the button down to have it scroll as if rotating a knob on the instrument.