Special Case Bearings
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Because Trigonometry Just Wasn't Easy Enough

Special Case Bearings are a grouping of general Rules of Thumb that can be used to find distances and ETAs when piloting using visual fixes. It involves the use of simple trigonometric principles along with a first and second bearing to find other related information. All you need to solve these is a First Bearing, a Second Bearing, a known speed and distance covered between the two bearings.

Double the Angle on the Bow

Bow and Beam

7/10 Rule

7/8 Rule

Natural Cotangent Rule