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'''TACtical Air Navigation''', or '''TACAN''', is a navigation system used by [[:Category:Military aircraft|military aircraft]]. It provides the user with a distance and bearing from a ground station. It is a more accurate version of the [[VHF]] omnidirectional range / Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) system that provides range and bearing information for civil aviation. At VORTAC facilities, the DME portion of the TACAN system is available for civil use. | '''TACtical Air Navigation''', or '''TACAN''', is a navigation system used by [[:Category:Military aircraft|military aircraft]]. It provides the user with a distance and bearing from a ground station. It is a more accurate version of the [[VHF]] omnidirectional range / Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) system that provides range and bearing information for civil aviation. At VORTAC facilities, the DME portion of the TACAN system is available for civil use. | ||
==Operation== | == Operation == | ||
TACAN in general can be described as the military version of the VOR/DME system. It operates in the frequency band 960-1215 MHz. The bearing unit of TACAN is more accurate than a standard VOR since it makes use of a two frequency principle, with 15 Hz and 135 Hz components. | TACAN in general can be described as the military version of the VOR/DME system. It operates in the frequency band 960-1215 MHz. The bearing unit of TACAN is more accurate than a standard VOR since it makes use of a two frequency principle, with 15 Hz and 135 Hz components. | ||
The distance measurement component of TACAN operates with the same specifications as do civil DMEs. Therefore to reduce the number of required stations, TACAN stations are frequently co-located with VOR facilities. These co-located stations are known as VORTACs. This is a station composed of a VOR for civil bearing information and a TACAN for military bearing information and military/civil distance measuring information. The TACAN transponder performs the function of a DME without the need for a separate, collocated DME. Because the rotation of the antenna creates a large portion of the azimuth signal, if the antenna fails, the azimuth component is no longer available and the TACAN downgrades to a DME only mode. | The distance measurement component of TACAN operates with the same specifications as do civil DMEs. Therefore to reduce the number of required stations, TACAN stations are frequently co-located with VOR facilities. These co-located stations are known as VORTACs. This is a station composed of a VOR for civil bearing information and a TACAN for military bearing information and military/civil distance measuring information. The TACAN transponder performs the function of a DME without the need for a separate, collocated DME. Because the rotation of the antenna creates a large portion of the azimuth signal, if the antenna fails, the azimuth component is no longer available and the TACAN downgrades to a DME only mode. | ||
===FlightGear=== | === FlightGear === | ||
A few planes in FlightGear are equipped with TACAN. Here's a list of known aircraft with TACAN: | A few planes in FlightGear are equipped with TACAN. Here's a list of known aircraft with TACAN: | ||