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Interactive Simulator

RMI Simulator

Read relative and magnetic bearings instantly on the RMI. Watch the needles point to the station as you manoeuvre, and develop the bearing-interpretation skills the exam and the cockpit both demand.

RMIBearingsDual needleStation passage

Caution: the behaviour of the instruments and information shown is approximate, for illustration and study only, and may not reflect the exact readings of a real aircraft.

Instructions for use

The RMI’s compass card is slaved to your heading, and the needle always points to the station. The big advantage: you read the magnetic bearing to the station directly under the needle head — no mental arithmetic.

Reading it

  • The needle head gives the magnetic bearing TO the station; the tail gives the radial you are on.
  • The angle between the nose (top lubber) and the needle head is the relative bearing.
  • As you fly past the station the needle swings through 90° abeam and points behind you after passage.

Try this

  • Press Fly and turn to put the needle on the nose — you are now tracking directly to the station.
  • Watch the radial readout (the needle tail) and confirm it is the reciprocal of the bearing to the station.
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