Anyone know, or have experience in IF, with NDB approaches? What are the ones you recommend trying out - in terms of challenge/skill level, scenery, realism?
(Not asking HOW to fly an NDB approach - just asking if anyone has any particular approaches they’d recommend)
Here are a few interresting ones in the US I could find:
KCOS NDB Rwy 35L
KEGT NDB Rwy 35
KHFY NDB Rwy 01
KRFD NDB Rwy 01
Take a look, especially KCOS has some great scenery!
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Oh nice! Thanks! Imma try KCOS for sure
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I didn’t know there were even these many in the US lol
What’s an NDB approach? I’m a bit clueless haha
It’s a type of approach - like an ILS but not if that makes sense - that uses a non directional beacon, or NDB. And NDB is a bit like a VOR if you know what that is.
There’s a topic (to which there are many good answers) here:
An NDB is a Non-Directional Beacon.
It sends out a non-directional signal on frequencies between 190 to 1800 kHz (aka the LF or Low-Frequency radio range) Their signal is carried via the curvature of the earth, as opposed to line-of-sight, so they can be picked up from quite far-away distances.
They send out an omnidirectional signal - that is, a signal which is just directed everywhere in all directions. Therefore, to “track down” a signal to an NDB, you need to use something called an ADF (Automatic Direction Finder) or an RDF (Radio Direction Finder). Most aircraft have ADFs installed.
Obviously, NDBs are decades-old technology, but still very useful, especially for oceanic navigation between two landmasses, or places where there is absolutely zero radar coverage and/or no VORs (which are more high-maintenance). However they are being phased out for more modern technology such as satellite navigation.
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