The Humble NDB
Having learnt some tips about finding a suitable IFR trainer, we will now kick off some real IFR flying by taking a look at one of the oldest radio navigation aids used in aviation, the Non-Directional Beacon (NDB).
The humble NDB
The NDB has been in use almost since the first radio transmissions were made and while maritime NDBs still exist, the discussion in this tutorial will focus solely on its use in aviation. In its most basic form, it comprises a radio transmitter that simply transmits a continuous signal on a given radio frequency. This enables any vessel with Radio Direction Finding (RDF) equipment to determine in which direction this beacon is from their current position. It sounds very simple and for the most part it is, as long as you understand where the shortcomings and limitations are.
