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Jarrett,
When traveling around the US on my 'Aussie speedo
metered' (metric) Harley, I had to mentally calculated all speeds on the
go.
I found the easiest system was using was
using the 5/8 fraction i.e. 100 k's and hour are approximately 60 miles an
hour ( 100 k's/8= 12 approx x 5 = 60mph) I don't try to go into decimal points
when doing it in my head, as all I want is the approximate whole
number.
I learned how to do this as I have an old 73
Landcruiser, with miles an hour Speedo - the system is the same but inverted
i.e. 8/5 this.e. ( 60mph/5=12x 8 = 96 K's)
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 11:48
PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Metric
Being a Canuk myself, and growing up on the farm, I was exposed to both
systems. My father talked in acres and miles [ still does] and really it
makes sense as they land was marked out in the same sections as any other
farm land[1 mile by 1 mile]. One trick I figured out to help me follow
directions was to use a speedometer to convert like a slide rule. If someone
says go 4 miles north and 3 miles west, if you look on the speedo, 40 miles/hr
is about 60km/hr so 4 miles is ~ 6km's. I used to navigate all over the place
using this to 'convert' the directions into something usable/definable by the
vehicles odometer. There are nice things about the metric system however they
did complicate it more than needed. If you never use cm, cL you'll be fine.
[instead only use mm and mL or meters and litres]
Someone mentioned that a cc isn't a ml, care to explain? I've never
heard this.
One thing I've always wondered about is, did the metric people
figure out a way to navigate the globe? [ie Lat/Long]
Jarrett Johnson [not an advocate of either system]
----- Original Message -----
From: Todd Bartrim <bartrim@gmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 2:55 am
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Metric
> Hi John;
>
>
Ok, I didn't realize you were referring to
> matching your US
>
odometer to distances up here. Not a problem up here as every
> vehicle
sold
> in Canada since 1977 has the odometer in Km. And from wheat to
> steam and
> everything in between, it drove everybody from
farmers to
> engineers nuts at
> first. I was 10 when it was
switched and wasn't impressed at the
> time as I
> was having
enough trouble learning the 3 "R"s, but it turns out to
>
havebenefitted me as I can easily use both systems without the
> need
for mental
> conversion (except temp, never did care for the Fahrenheit
thing),
> but my
> Dad who all along has embraced the metric
system still mentally
> converts(even though he is loathe to admit it),
while my much
> younger brother has
> never really known
anything but metric. I can tell you that many
> things are
>
much simpler to calculate using metric. Steam tables are one of
> the
nastiest
> examples I can think off. Not something many people ever
have to
> deal with,
> but a good example of how much simpler
and strait forward that
> metric can
> make something.
>
>
While I still have memories of dreading the
> changeover, in
>
hindsight it was really all that painful and it will benefit future
>
generations. Dave, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the US
>
military has
> changed over or are in the process of it now? So while
you
> naturally want to
> resist it, if not your kids, then your
grandkids will benefit from
> a change
> while they're young
enough to adapt easily.
>
> I'm tempted to answer some of the
other e-mails regarding
> economic benefits
> etc. but I really
can't see what continuing this discussion has to
> do with
>
rotary engines in airplanes, so I've decided to leave it at this.
>
>
Now if wasn't currently -29C here (that's -20F for
> you SAE
>
types) or if I'd gotten my shop heated before winter, then maybe I'd
>
actually be working on my plane and have something more relevant
> to
talk
> about!
>
>
>
>
Todd (resistance is futile. you will be
assimilated J)
>
>
>
> From: Rotary motors in
aircraft [flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
> Behalf Of John Downing
> Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 6:20 AM
> To: Rotary motors in
aircraft
> Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Metric
>
>
>
> Todd; When you leave Michigan and travel east towards Niagara
> Falls, you
> pass through the rural farm land all laid out in
mile square
> sections. The
> signs are in km and the
odometer is in miles and all the distances
> needconversion. I
didn't think it was broke, but they changed it.
> When you
>
look at the bushels of wheat per acre, it really gets more involved,
>
hectoliters per hectare??, that change must have driven allot of
> ole
farmers
> nuts. Just my casual observation from the farm.
JohnD
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From:
Todd Bartrim <bartrim@gmail.com>
>
> To: Rotary
<flyrotary@lancaironline.net> motors in aircraft
>
>
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 12:25 AM
>
> Subject:
[FlyRotary] Re: Metric
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I have seen this in Canada and none of the distances match
> anything you see.
>
>
>
>
> I
don't get this? Care to elaborate?
>
>
>
>
Todd (matching distances everywhere I look)
>
>
--
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