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Outline
Introduction Altimeter Airspeed indicator Vertical speed indicator Heading indicator Attitude indicator Turn coordinator Summary

Introduction
History the very first aircraft had little to no flight instruments all weather flying was risky navigation depended on pilots ability to use landmarks

Introduction
The common flight instruments
altimeter airspeed indicator vertical speed indicator heading indicator attitude indicator (artificial horizon) turn coordinator

Altimeter
Defining the altimeter
barometric gauge determines how high the aircraft is from sea level (altitude)

How it works
measures air pressure that enter through static ports

Altimeter
air pressure increases and decreases as the aircraft descends and climbs a wafer inside the instrument case expands and contracts with the change in a pressure

How to read the altimeter

looks like a clock with a long and short hand measured in feet

Altimeter
9 8 7
Thousands of feet

0
ALTITUDE

This shows aircraft at 5,250ft

1 2 3

4 5

Hundreds of feet

Hatched warning flag in view mean airplanes is below 10,000ft.

Airspeed Indicator
Defining the airspeed indicator differential pressure gauge tells the pilot how fast the plane is going How it works measures air pressure entering from two inlets base air pressure ram air air pressure the difference between the two air pressures is sent to the gauge to indicate airspeed

Airspeed Indicator
How to the airspeed indicator
displayed digital and/or analog measured in knots Analog
160 40 60
AIRSPEED KNOTS

Digital 130 KTS

140 120

80 100

Vertical Speed Indicator

Defining the vertical speed indicator pressure gauge used to maintain proper rate of climb and rate of descend How it works like the altimeter, but measures rate of change uses an expandable wafer that expands and contracts with the change in air pressure calibrated to show a level reading when case air pressure equals air pressure in wafer

Vertical Speed Indicator

How to read the VSI measured in feet per minute

Numbers above 0 indicate a positive rate of climb

10
0 is the center markaircraft is level
5

15

VERTICAL SPEED

0
5

20
15

10

Numbers below 0 indicate a negative rate of climb

Heading Indicator
Defining the heading indicator also called directional gyro provides accurate directional information in relation to earths magnetic north How it works uses an internal gyroscope that rotates a compass card on the instrument face When the aircraft turns, the needle indicates which direction it is heading

Heading Indicator

How to read the heading indicator measured in degrees (0-north, 90-west, 180south, and 270-east
This aircraft is heading north

A number is displayed every 30 degrees

Reads in five degree increments

Represents the aircrafts profile if looking down

Attitude Indicator
Defining the attitude indicator
also called the artificial horizon displays both pitch and bank simultaneously
pitch-aircraft movement on its lateral axis bank- aircraft movement on its longitudinal axis

Attitude Indicator
How the attitude indicator works uses a gyroscope mounted inside the instrument case the gyro rotates in the horizontal plane in relation to earths horizon this happens as the aircraft banks, climbs and descends this relation is show on the instrument face using an artificial horizon

Attitude Indicator
How to read the attitude indicator
the center of the gauge is the artificial horizon
Blue is sky Hatch marks indicate degree of bank Simulates aircraft profile if looking from the tail

Center hatch marks indicate degree of pitch Brown is ground

Turn Coordinator
Defining the turn coordinator
uses a gyroscope shows aircraft rate of turn
how fast it is changing speed

shows quality of turn

if the turn is coordinated

serves as a back up to the attitude indicator

Turn Coordinator

How the turn coordinator works a gyro is mounted at a 30 degree angle inside instrument case as the aircraft turns , applied forces cause the gyro to spin and rotate as this happens, the small plane on the instrument face indicates bank

Turn coordinator
How to read the turn coordinator
measured in degrees per minute

If wings touch top hatch mark the aircraft is not turning

A wing touching the L or the R indicates a standard rate of turn

Turn coordinator
The slip/skid on the turn coordinator
usually at the bottom of the instrument

Keeping the ball in the center of two line indicates a coordinated turn

Summary
Flight instruments all together have made navigation easier communication easier fault detection and warning indication possible takeoffs and landings easier and most important flying safer

The End