Flying weather in New York in March

On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" wrote:

What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
wind correction)?

Is it a trick math question? It's certain won't be the great circle
route, which has a continuous changing magnetic heading to hold.

Given the difference of magnetic variation between west coast and the
east coast, I'm not certain this can be calculated using a math
formula. Such a magnetic heading can be deduced by a computer
simulation using the brute force method.

"M" wrote in message news:
...
On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" wrote:

What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
wind correction)?

Is it a trick math question? It's certain won't be the great circle
route, which has a continuous changing magnetic heading to hold.

Given the difference of magnetic variation between west coast and the
east coast, I'm not certain this can be calculated using a math
formula. Such a magnetic heading can be deduced by a computer
simulation using the brute force method.

This is a very complex mathematical problem, but it could be
solved analytically if a precise description of the earth's magnetic
field were available. To see how involved it gets, look up "affine
connections" in Wikipedia, but that's just the theory!

A numeric solution by successive approximation would yield
an approximate answer. One would calculate an approximation
to the magnetic field using the dashed magnetic variation lines
on the various sectionals & then extrapolate using (say) one-mile
path lengths. Vary the initial magnetic heading from JFK using
Newton's method until you hit SFO with the desired accuracy.

Well, that's what I'd do were I at all interested..!

"Peter R." writes:
On 3/1/2007 10:44:49 PM, "Morgans" wrote:

The weather patterns have moved rather slowly this spring,

Spring? Stated like a true southerner. Spring (as in weather, not
calendar) is still almost two months away for those of us flying out of a
northeastern US airport.

We got a nice taste yesterday. 60 degrees, perfectly smooth air and
high ceilings up here in Boston yesterday...

Chris

It's not really a trick question, but I think it's a difficult one.

"M" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" wrote:

What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
wind correction)?

Is it a trick math question? It's certain won't be the great circle
route, which has a continuous changing magnetic heading to hold.

Given the difference of magnetic variation between west coast and the
east coast, I'm not certain this can be calculated using a math
formula. Such a magnetic heading can be deduced by a computer
simulation using the brute force method.

On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 13:47:17 -0600, "Danny Deger"
wrote:

I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.

I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
the NE USA?

My co-owner flew a Sundowner from Connecticut to Dallas (and back a
week later) in March. He spent the night in the Nashville area. He
didn't have an instrument rating at the time, and your plane isn't an
IFR plane, so you're even. G

If you have some time, it can be done.

"Jon Woellhaf" wrote in
:

It's not really a trick question, but I think it's a difficult one.

"M" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" wrote:

What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
wind correction)?

Actually, I believe there are many right answers, but it largely depends on
how many laps one is willing to make around the globe before finally reaching
SFO...

Danny, you wrote this question like someone from Texas! There's a lot
of real estate in NY. If you're going to Buffalo, I think chances are
not as good as if you're doing your pick up on say Long Island.

On Mar 1, 2:47 pm, "Danny Deger" wrote:
I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.

I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
the NE USA?

Danny Deger

If you wanted an approximation, start with a guess. look 50 miles
along that course line, note the deviation and variation at that point
and use it to calculate where you'd be for a 100 mile flight. Repeat
from that point about 30 times until you are abeam SFO. Now, since
that's about a 3000 mile trip, adjust your initial guess by 1 degree
for every 50 miles you're off, then try again. We used to call that
approach a numerical solution, or brute strength calculation, it
probably has a sexier name now.

There's a neat implication here. If you want to arrive within say 10
miles of your target after holding constant heading for 3000, your
heading has to really really be constant -- like to the tune of arc
tan (10/3000) or 0.2 degrees. That's a really tight tolerance to hold
on average.

Remember Linburgh arriving over Ireland within a few miles of where he
intended, after crossing the ocean? Lucky Lindy indeed!



going On Mar 4, 1:00 pm, "Jon Woellhaf"
wrote:
It's not really a trick question, but I think it's a difficult one.

"M" wrote in message

oups.com...



On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" wrote:

What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
wind correction)?

Is it a trick math question? It's certain won't be the great circle
route, which has a continuous changing magnetic heading to hold.

Given the difference of magnetic variation between west coast and the
east coast, I'm not certain this can be calculated using a math
formula. Such a magnetic heading can be deduced by a computer
simulation using the brute force method.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

On 3/4/2007 10:16:36 AM, Christopher Brian Colohan wrote:

We got a nice taste yesterday. 60 degrees, perfectly smooth air and
high ceilings up here in Boston yesterday...

Not sure if you are going to be receiving it this week in Boston, but
forecasts for central NY are calling for 4 degrees F for a high Tuesday,
followed the next day by 19 F, and then 12 F. We are not out of the woods
just yet..

--
Peter