Try in a few modern Sextant they spirit level (they spirit fluid so does not freeze) No a modern nuke Aircraft carry is using a water for navigation. Aircraft use spirit level or mercury (no horizon )
Dave
New ways vs Old ways CNC vs manual
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Dave
Maybe most do not know what radio compass or E6B
I think there would be more respons
E6B is a aircraft Dead Reckoning computer. It would with ground speed direction to point the aircraft with cross wind and more
The radio compass was for per-runner to GPS . Basically it points to radio station on a given frequency. Now few did talk the one for ships by different name.
OR I could toldly wrong again
What do you think ?
Dave
Although they're often referred to as a flight computer, in fact, the E6B is nothing more than a fancy circular slide rule typically made of sheet aluminum; photo below.
Your description of the radio compass is fairly accurate, I will only add that the radio stations (way points) the radio compass points to are ground based and are scattered across the US. Sometime back in the 70's (I think) avionics companies developed the R-Nav which would pick up multiple way point stations and tell the radio compass to display a heading to your destination instead of to the way point. R-Navs were the forerunner to GPS. Those of us who got our US pilot licensee back in the 80's were still required to learn how to navigate using way points and radio compass,...no R-Nav and no GPS allowed.
E6B did a lot with this side rull. Back 1960's every pilot had one or more. It is still amazing they designed the E6B with only a slide rule , paper and drafting board in 1930s
The radio compass dates back to 1920s ith Morse code radio station.
In 1930s and 1940's the used AM radio stations sometimes had to wait for call sign to see if had correcte station.
I still like radio compass
Some aircraft owners had two for triangulation.
Most just did with on radio compass still could do triangulation by switching back and forth.
My first generator I rebuilt was Kholer 5kw 4 cylinder water.
It was 7½ kw under the name plate. It was 240 volt 2 wire.
Hard to use but when built it they just did not add the center Tap but rebuilding found the center Tap. I use for over 30 years till walk a way. It was hard to move about 1,200 pounds was my guess.
Dave
The radio compass dates back to 1920s ith Morse code radio station.
In 1930s and 1940's the used AM radio stations sometimes had to wait for call sign to see if had correcte station.
I still like radio compass
Some aircraft owners had two for triangulation.
Most just did with on radio compass still could do triangulation by switching back and forth.
My first generator I rebuilt was Kholer 5kw 4 cylinder water.
It was 7½ kw under the name plate. It was 240 volt 2 wire.
Hard to use but when built it they just did not add the center Tap but rebuilding found the center Tap. I use for over 30 years till walk a way. It was hard to move about 1,200 pounds was my guess.
Dave
The GPS is great tool
Like saw in pass posts about sun spots. The worst time time for sun spots around 1840's set telegraph stations on fire and wire cattle finding on fire.
Think of that happen what would do world today.
Convertering the lathe to petal power or putting a engine to run thf lathe like good old days.
So away look thing I can build .
I can check off the engines no need for a horse
. Just install one on dishwasher good to go. Today everyone has a GPS. But hod many can navigate on airplane , drive car or sail a ship with out a GPS.
I bet most here can do navigation with out a GPS and build a Sextant.
Dave
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re: "guys use a length of clear plastic tube filled with water to insure their construction is level from point-to-point; no fancy lasers needed." - I instructed the inspectors at work to do this when setting measuring equipment truly level along a test track for testing cars.... (Typically a 30m set-up). They were amazed it worked so well, except the guy who got soaked emptying the pipe for storage! They later bought a laser level (because they could) and found it was OK in gloomy weather, great at night, but difficult over long distances in sunshine.. or when the Engineer stood in the line of the beam.
As I had them mark the positions, record the height of the kit above the road, they used that in future as the repeatable set-up was adequately level. No significant difference between either method in practice, but at night the laser was easier to use as a checking tool. And the laser was quicker than the guy getting soaked!
K2
Looking Building a pocket Sextant.
3 to 4" size
Using aluminum, UHMW & brass.
With research found most was accurate to 30 minutes.
Using a sprint level with horizon
So can be used on seas , land & air.
It only early days of design.
See below of 3" dail
Dave
What do you think
Here main two types of Sextant
VENEER TYPE
Note the it is mark in ½°
Very close
Note the veneer is in 10 parts or 3 minutes marks and has the degree sign not minute
Micrometer type
Very close
The numbers are 25 , 30 , 35 & 40 next with 5 marks between next number looks to be 1 minute, That a guess looking at photo
Dave
VENEER TYPE
Note the it is mark in ½°
Very close
Note the veneer is in 10 parts or 3 minutes marks and has the degree sign not minute
Micrometer type
Very close
The numbers are 25 , 30 , 35 & 40 next with 5 marks between next number looks to be 1 minute, That a guess looking at photo
WHAT DO YOU THINK ?
Dave
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