James Allan Contributing Editor Pilot Magazine

"Following on the success of their ADF Tutor program for use on PCs, Maple Leaf Software have now produced a very polished training aid to help pilots become familiar with how to handle the VOR. It takes about five minutes flat to teach a VFR tyro how to use a VOR to track direct inbound to or away from a VOR, but there is a lot more than that to instrument flying using a VOR. How one should intercept a given track, allow for drift, join a VOR hold, fly it and allow for drift in the hold are all matters that involve certain trains of thought processes that are difficult and expensive to acquire while seated in the front left-hand seat of an aircraft. This simple-to-run program takes you metaphorically by the hand and explains each step in turn while you gain hours of experience in the mechanics of VOR flying at no more cost than the odd unit of electricity to run your PC. Flying a PC with a program like this isn't claimed to be a complete substitute for airborne experience; it cannot be. On the other hand it is a very efficient way of coming to grips with the techniques essential to accurate VOR flying and practising these repeatedly without pressures of time and expense. This inexpensive PC program will undoubtedly reduce the total time required in the air to master the VOR. The VOR/OBI Tutor can be run on any 286 or better PC, either direct from the diskette or from the hard disk, where it occupies only some 185KB. The introduction is a clear explanation of how to control the program (and of how the "aircraft" responds to control input). Wisely, it has been programmed to fly level at all times, allowing the pilot to concentrate on course corrections without having to worry about altitude excursions. The simple graphics of the program are excellent, with good, smoothly operating representation of VOR, artificial horizon and directional gyro. You can also call up a scalable map in place of the AH and a yellow line on this depicts the track you have achieved in each exercise. Any pilot, VFR or IFR, who wants to learn how to use the VOR efficiently in his or her flying is likely to find that this program will pay for itself over and over again. It is also quite an enjoyable way of learning accurate flying, with that tell-tale yellow line on the map always ready to show you there is still room for improvement." James Allan Contributing Editor Pilot Magazine

Miles McCallum Contributor Flyer Magazine

"Even in these days of GPS, a great many people still use VOR/DME as a back up to navigating around in the murk. You never know when the GPS system might go off the air (even for a few minutes) or the batteries in the all-singing, all dancing moving map, hand-held model decide that enough is enough. The VOR tutor is a bit of 'real world' software: it costs less than a good meal out, it's easy to use, and it leads you by the hand from the basics of VOR operation including all the real world foibles - through to the intricacies of VOR-based IFR procedures, The screen comes in two formats, the first being the classroom: the bottom half consists of text explaining a particular point, and the top has a compass, a VOR head complete with an 0BI, and a map This shows the VOR transmitter, your aircraft and its heading, and the radial. The first half of the program takes you through the technicalities of using a VOR. By the time you have digested this, you'll have a thorough understanding of how to orientate yourself to a VOR station and interpret the clues your instrument is providing. Switching to flight format, the map is replaced with a simple artificial horizon with which you can fly your aircraft at one altitude but at various headings, turn rates and speeds: being able to do 9,600mph is very useful as a fast forward control in experimenting. Then they introduce the notion of wind.. this can (like all other relevant parameters) be varied as to speed and direction to tax your skills in making allowances for it , especially as you delve into the terrors of parallel entry, direct entry, or tear-drop/offset entry sector joins to holding patterns. Your brain will hurt. You will understand it. From the microlight pilot with a handheld Nav- Com to an IR student intent on securing that ticket, it's well worth the paltry few quid. Besides, it's rather entertaining, and there are worse ways to spend a dark evening or a wet day when you can't fly." Miles McCallum Contributor Flyer Magazine August 1994

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