Basics of Computer ::
8
FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
The instruments used in controlling the aircraft’s flight
attitude are known as the flight instruments. There are
basic flight instruments, such as the altimeter that
displays aircraft altitude; the airspeed indicator; and
the magnetic direction indicator, a form of compass.
Additionally, an artificial horizon, turn coordinator, and
vertical speed indicator are flight instruments present
in most aircraft. This basic T arrangement for flight
instruments is shown below.
Fig. 8.1 Flight instrument
2 :: FLIGHT INSTRUMENT
All A typical pitot-static system head, or pitot tube, collects
ram air and static pressure for use by the flight instruments.
Fig. 8.2 Flight instrument
2. AIR SPEED INDICATOR (ASI)
Airspeed indicator on single and light twin-engine
aircraft with the standard color-coded markings.
Fig. 8.3 Air speed indicator
FLIGHT INSTRUMENT :: 3
- Vs0 : Stall speeds in landing configuration ;
- Vs1 : reference stall speed in specific configuration ;
- VFE : Maximum speed with flaps down ;
- VNO : Maximum cruise speed ;
- VNE : Speed never to be exceeded.
Vertical speed indicator
The VSI is a differential pressure gauge that compares free-
flowing static air pressure in the diaphragm with restricted
static air pressure around the diaphragm in the instrument
case.
Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) is also called a vertical velocity
indicator (VVI), and was formerly known as a rate-of-climb
indicator. It is a rate-of-pressure change instrument that gives
an indication of any deviation from a constant pressure level.
Fig. 8.5 Vertical speed indicator
4 :: FLIGHT INSTRUMENT
3. PNEUMATIC SYSTEM
Pneumatic gyros are driven by a jet of air impinging on
buckets cut into the periphery of the wheel. On many
aircraft this stream of air is obtained by evacuating the
instrument case with a vacuum source and allowing
filtered air to flow into the case through a nozzle to
spin the wheel.
Fig. 8.6 Pneumatic system
4. ATTITUDE INDICATOR
The attitude indicator, with its miniature aircraft and
horizon bar, displays a picture of the attitude of the
aircraft. The relationship of the miniature aircraft to
the horizon bar is the same as the relationship of the
real aircraft to the actual horizon. The instrument
gives an instantaneous indication of even the
smallest changes in attitude.
FLIGHT INSTRUMENT ::
5
Fig. 8.7 Attitude indicator
Presentation of the attitude indicator.
Fig. 8.8 Attitude indicator
6::FLIGHT INSTRUMENT t
u
5. HEADER INDICATOR r
n
The heading indicator is fundamentally a .
mechanical instrument designed to facilitate the
use of the magnetic compass. Errors in the
magnetic compass are numerous, making
straight flight and precision turns to headings
difficult to accomplish, particularly in turbulent
air. A heading indicator displays headings based
on a 360° azimuth, with the final zero omitted.
Fig. 8.9 Header indicator
6. TURN AND SLIP INDICATOR
The first gyroscopic aircraft instrument was the
turn indicator in the needle and ball, or turn-and-
bank indicator, which has more recently been
called a turn-and-slip indicator. The inclinometer
in the instrument is a black glass ball sealed
inside a curved glass tube that is partially filled
with a liquid for damping. inertia caused by a
FLIGHT INSTRUMENT::7
This ball measures the relative strength of the force of gravity and
the force of inertia caused by a turn.
Turn and slip indicator.
Fig. 8.10 Turn and slip indicator
Turn coordinator.
Fig. 8.11 Turn and slip indicator
8 :: FLIGHT
INSTRUMENT
7. ANGLE OF ATTACK (AOA) SENSOR
There are two main types of AOA
sensors in common use. Both detect
the angular difference between the
relative wind and the fuselage, which
is used as a reference plane. One
uses a vane, known as an alpha
vane, externally mounted to the
outside of the fuselage. It is free to
rotate in the wind. As the AOA
changes, air flowing over the vane
changes its angle. The other (figure
below) uses two slots in a probe that
extends out of the side of the
fuselage into the airflow.
Fig. 8.12 AOA sensor
8. ALTIMETER
A sensitive altimeter is an aneroid
barometer that measures the
absolut
e
pressur
e of the
ambient
air and
displays
it in
terms of
feet or
meters
above a
selected
pressur
e level.
FLIGHT INSTRUMENT::9
Fig. 8.13 Altimeter
Fig. 8.14 Altimeter Jeager
8
FLIGHT
INSTRUMENTS