What is going on with the time???

[EHM-1617 Iain]

According to the Online Flying page, it says that the LSZH to LPPT fly-in starts at 1930Z.

The current BST British Summertime is 1959, but it is only 1859Z.

But there are four pilots currently participating in the fly-in already (Gergely included). I thought it didn't start for another half and hour yet?

A confused...

[EHM-0948 Bruno]

GMT time Iain .... It is currently 20:12 GMT.

[EHM-1571 Moris]

I started because I am little confused in time after few beers (dinner was good,delicius:-))

[EHM-1617 Iain]

Excuse me if I'm wrong, but the current GMT time when you posted that message was an hour earlier than you said it was!

It is now 1943 GMT (but 2043 BST) - check this site http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/
if you don't believe me, so the scheduled departure was 13 minutes ago and most people have departed an hour early.

It is the Daylight Saving Time that is confusing everyone - GMT is not affected by DST.

So the flight started at:

1930GMT
=2030BST (my time)

ie. 13 minutes ago.

Sorry if i'm totally mad, but I am 99.9% sure that I am correct.

EDIT: I meant to add - it has not been 2012 GMT yet - that is not for another 29 minutes!

[EHM-1281 Cyriel]

My mistake people! I posted the time in Z while I meant GMT and CET(GMT+1). I forgot we both are on daylight savings now so I had to add another hour to the Z time. Next time I will only post the times in GMT and CET I guess that will be best for all.

Sorry again!!

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Right, Cyriel's fault - that's the blame bit over and done with and next time we'll get it right, I promise (and hey, I took off somewhere close to 1930Z...) It's an easy mistake to make, and it's only cause I configure all my servers to UTC (and therefore work in Zulu almost exclusively) that I didn't start at 1930BST as well: that, and I was necking some food

Anyhow, means I have only just closed FS down, and sent a small sample of the shots I got of Kendy and I flying formation (thank goodness LEBL_CTR wasn't about, that's all I'm going to say...) and when you all get to see them, yes, I was flying in the default FS2004 Lear45. Didn't have time to install the EHB model before the fly in started... Next time, eh...

[EHM-1617 Iain]

What exactly does Z mean?

Does it mean GMT (and therefore does not change in the summer)?

Or does it mean the time at 0* latitude ie. London and so does change with the summer?

From the research I have done it seems to be the first option, but please can you confirm for me!

I think that you should put the time in GMT only, as it is the only one that is not affected by DST, and give a link to this page where people just input which European city's time zone they are in without worrying about DST, and it does all the rest, including whether DST is in effect or not.

Thanks for the responses

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Iain,

Yes, Zulu [Z] is *exactly* the same as GMT/UTC/UCT, none of which make allowances for vernal equinox addition/subtractions... Frankly, I think UTC/UCT is just the French trying to poach GMT from us again...

Z makes no differentiation between winter and summer time. As with all such things, it would be easier for everyone if we put down the times in two or three primary timezones (which I will try to make sure happens for the next online event): Z/GMT/UTC, BST and CET.

It should be noted that when I write BST above, I don't mean British Summer Time, but British Standard Time; UK Local time (with the vernal equinox addition/subtraction included, so Z+1 right now...)

And perhaps it should also be noted that any political party that wants to manifesto the UK going to Z year round (or even the UK joining CET) and abandoning the poxy vernal equinox addition/subtraction would get my vote, and I'd put up posters and help with campaigning...