[Az-Geocaching] Used Garmin Extrex Legend/Vista?

[RopingThe Wind]

>From: "Rob Brinkerhoff" <brinkerhoff@cox.net>
>Reply-To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
>To: <listserv@azgeocaching.com>
>Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] Used Garmin Extrex Legend/Vista?
>Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 18:39:13 -0700
>
>How did the old traditional balloonist navigate in the "old
>days" without a GPS?
>A lost art...
>
>-WJ


Not very accurately, that's fore sure!!!!!! :) LOL

GPS's have made competition balloon flights MUCH more accurate and we are 
now often times able to 'steer' our balloons within meters or less of a 
target's center. Back in the early days, a baggie drop of 500' or more was 
considered good. Now, if you cant get your marker/baggie within the center 
square of the X (less than a half a meter from dead center), you are 
probably not in the prize money! Also, many competitive flights now require 
GPS, as the tasks/goals of each flight are simply too complicated and simply 
not attainable without a GPS unit on board. NABA, the sanctioning body for 
competitive ballooning in the US now using Garmin supplied GPS's onboard 
every balloon (these are a 'black box' type thing that tracks our every 
move).

Now, on 'local' flights, I do typically carry my GPS on board. I use it to 
tell the control tower of an airport I might be flying near my exact 
position (rather than guestimating). But, if I am outside controlled 
airspace, I rarely use the GPS. It's main uses are in competition flying and 
adventure flying, where routing and mapping work is critical.

Yep... in the old days, they didnt have GPS's on board their balloons, they 
didnt need them. They could barely fly them as it was much less trying to 
navigate with precision!!!!!!!!!!!

:)

Scott
Team Ropingthewind

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