An aircraft radio navigation instrument that automatically points to the direction of a selected Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) or another AM radio transmitter. The ADF needle displays the bearing to the station relative to the aircraft’s nose, allowing pilots to navigate by turning toward or away from the beacon.
Key uses include:
- Homing: Flying directly toward the beacon by keeping the needle centered on the nose.
- Tracking: Flying a specific course to or from the beacon while correcting for wind drift.
- Approaches: Supporting NDB non-precision approaches, often used in poor weather as a backup system.
ADF navigation requires skill, since it provides no range information and is susceptible to signal disturbances (mountains, weather, electrical interference).
Application in DCS World
- Aircraft like the L-39, C-101, Mi-8, Mi-24, and other Soviet-era platforms feature working ADF instruments that can tune into NDB stations placed in missions.
- DCS does not include a global network of NDBs by default. Beacons must be mission-specific or simulated with triggers. Additionally, NDB approaches are not charted in DCS as they are in real aviation.
Cadets can practice needle tracking, homing, and crosswind corrections using the ADF in supported aircraft, an excellent exercise for learning precise instrument flying with limited navigation data.