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  3. Aerospace / Aviation / Space

8 o'clock (position)

German translation: auf 8 Uhr

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:8 o\'clock (position)
German translation:auf 8 Uhr
Entered by: Ute Wietfeld

10:32 Jul 9, 2012
English to German translations [PRO]
Aerospace / Aviation / Space / Vietnam war memories
English term or phrase: 8 o'clock (position)
This is a quote from a pilot's memories of the Vietnam War:

"Suddenly we were in the midst of four other MiG-17s. We almost had a midair with one of them, we were so close. And I saw a MiG coming up on our 8:00 o'clock, and we turned—turned again. We actually tumbled nose over tail through the air until finally we got control of it, and there was a MiG-17 right in front of us."

Does German "aviation speak" use a similar expression - I've searched but not found anything - or would you just describe the position (i.e. something like "links unten")?

Many thanks!
Ute Wietfeld
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:09
auf 8 Uhr
Explanation:
Aviation, and especially military aviation, uses the numbers on the dial of a clock for giving positions relative to the position of the speaker.
Example: When you are in a plane, an object right in front of you is at 12 o'clock, and right behind you is at 6 o'clock;
In German, you might say: Feindflieger auf 8 Uhr
OR, in the language of the Cold War: Flieger rot auf ... Uhr (which denotes a plane of the former soviet forces) OR Flieger blau auf ... Uhr (denoting a NATO plane)
Selected response from:

Marcus Geibel
Germany
Local time: 17:09
Grading comment
So einfach ist's - herzlichen Dank!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +7auf 8 Uhr
Marcus Geibel
48-Uhr-Position
Michael Bernhardt
3südwest o. westsüdwest
Cilian O'Tuama


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +7
auf 8 Uhr


Explanation:
Aviation, and especially military aviation, uses the numbers on the dial of a clock for giving positions relative to the position of the speaker.
Example: When you are in a plane, an object right in front of you is at 12 o'clock, and right behind you is at 6 o'clock;
In German, you might say: Feindflieger auf 8 Uhr
OR, in the language of the Cold War: Flieger rot auf ... Uhr (which denotes a plane of the former soviet forces) OR Flieger blau auf ... Uhr (denoting a NATO plane)

Marcus Geibel
Germany
Local time: 17:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
So einfach ist's - herzlichen Dank!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Vielen Dank, Marcus


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Werner Walther: Auch beim Heer (Panzer, Panzergrenadiere usw.) angewendet. Vielleicht immer noch in ZDV 3/11 (Zentrale Dienstvorschrift) - (korr.).
9 mins
  -> Danke Werner! Hab's bei einer Hubschraubereinheit des Heers (Heeresflieger) gelernt :-)
agree  Oliver Hartmann (X): Ja, so wird es angewandt. Und es ist glaube ich immer noch so in der ZDV niedergeschrieben.
16 mins
  -> Danke Oliver!
agree  Colin Rowe
16 mins
  -> Danke Colin!
agree  DERDOKTOR
26 mins
  -> Danke, Doktor!
agree  Coqueiro
30 mins
  -> Danke, Coqueiro!
agree  Roland Hechtenberg: War auch so bei der F104
54 mins
  -> Danke Roland!
agree  Christian Köstner (X): Auf einmal hatten wir eine MIG auf acht Uhr..
4 hrs
  -> Danke Christian!
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
8-Uhr-Position


Explanation:
Yes, this is also used in German radio telephony, e.g. when ATC informs you about traffic

Michael Bernhardt
Germany
Local time: 17:09
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Herzlichen Dank!

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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
südwest o. westsüdwest


Explanation:
streng genommen dazwischen

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 17:09
Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: Vielen Dank, Cilian


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Werner Walther: Umsetzung WSW zutreffend, aber in der militärischen Praxis wird in der Tat auch bei der BW die Zifferblattansage verwendet - auch auf Deutsch.
4 mins
neutral  Coqueiro: 8-Uhr bezieht sich auf die aktuelle Richtung der Nase des Flugzeugs (= 12-Uhr), nicht auf Nord
25 mins
  -> stimmt, da hast du recht.
neutral  Colin Rowe: With Coqueiro. "8 o'clock" is behind left, no matter what direction you are flying.
31 mins
  -> das habe ich doch schon längst zugegeben :-)
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