AGL question

[rich12545]

Wondering about this. I like to fly VFR about 3-4000 feet agl in smaller GA aircraft. I have a small gauge in my mini-panel that gives me the altitude above ground level.

I think many of you fly the same way but most don't have that gauge. So as terrain rises and falls, how do you tell how far off the ground you are without the gauge?

 

[jeroen79]

Would this gauge be a radaraltimeter?

You could judge your height by sight. It is VFR afterall.
Otherwise just maintain an altitude that is (on average) close to the desired height.
Then change altitude only when there is a major change in terrain.

Unless you want to hug the terrain at 50ft I see no reason to continuously go up and down with the gound below you.
And if you do then sight will do fine.

 

[rich12545]

It's a similar gauge but I think not that exact one. So you just judge by sight? I've tried that and usually end up (after checking) maybe 6-7000 ft agl. I don't know. Maybe it doesn't matter much. I'm just wondering how others judge AGL without a gauge.

 

[jeroen79]

You'll have to practise.

You will have to calibrate your own sense of height.
If you endup at 6000ft when you try to maintain 3000ft then try maintaining 1500ft and see if you endup at 3000ft.
If you endup at a different height adjust your aim until you get it right.

Practise some more.

And observe how large things on the ground look from a given height.
Then climb and descend as things grow and shrink.
Don't expect precision.

More practise.

Of course, a PC monitor is no subsitute for the mk1 eyeball.

Did i mention practising?

 

[OBIO]

Here's how I just how close to the ground I am:

If I run into fluffy white things, I am too high

If I run into trees, barns or houses, I am too low

If I fly under bridges but above the water, I am right where I should be

OBIO

 

[rdaniell]

Here's how I just how close to the ground I am: If I run into fluffy white things, I am too high
If I run into trees, barns or houses, I am too low
If I fly under bridges but above the water, I am right where I should be
OBIO

OBIO, there are BOLD pilots and there OLD pilots. But there are very, very, few OLD BOLD pilots. That's the advice my ole daddy gave me right after I soloed back in 1964.

Romeo-Delta

 

[jeroen79]

Works like a charm.

Also, pushing the stick forward makes the white fluffy things go away and pulling the stick backwards makes the houses go away.
(if you pull the stick back too long the houses come back)

 

[rich12545]

Heh, got some good answers. Practice. And it's not really all that precise. Kinda what I thought in the back of my mind. Nice to know I'm not missing out on some important techniques which is why I posted.