| An artificial horizon is kept horizontal by the gyroscope to
which it is mounted. A fixed bar represents the plane's wings. As
the plane climbs or dives, the bar rises above or below the horizon
line. When the plane banks, the bar banks accordingly.
| The vertical speed indicator shows the rate at which the
airplane is climbing or descending. The instrument case contains a
airtight compartment housing a diaphragm. The case and the
diaphragm compartment each connect to the plane's static pressure
system, and it can register two different pressures. In level
flight, the two pressures are equal and the needle points to zero.
As the plane ascends, the diaphragm pressure drops faster than the
case pressure and the relative difference translates into the
aircraft's rate of climb.
| This instrument is similar to a compass. The compass remains
steady in relation to the earth.
|
| This gauge is connected to a pressure sensing tube and a
flexible diaphragm with in the instrument case. The diaphragm
compares the difference between the static air pressure on the tube
and the oncoming air, called ram pressure. An internal lever system
translates this into airspeed, expressed in nautical miles per
hour, or knots. | This is an instrument that has a ball which is in a sealed
glass tube filled with kerosene. When an aircraft turns the ball
inside the tube will move towards the direction of the turn. If the
ball is centered that means the plane is balanced. if the ball
rolls away from the turn that means the aircraft is yawing.
| The altimeter works similar to a barometer, it senses the
decrease in air pressure that accompanies an increase in altitude.
The needle indicates the altitude over sea or wherever the aircraft
is flying over ground. This instrument has to adjusted almost every
flight because of changes in weather. |
