Foreword
Welcome to our up to date flight gallery.
In here we keep all our flight related articles.
For example – I have always had a love for flight instruments as they are mesmerising, puzzling and life-saving all in one!
Instructions
- Watch the instruments dance together – they are never alone
- See the individual instruments below for a technical and representative descriptions
Airspeed Indicator
The airspeed indicator(ASI) measures the speed of the aircraft though the air usually in knots. The airspeed indicator is basically a differential pressure gauge. It is worth noting that the aircraft’s ground speed could be more or less than this speed according to the air mass direction it is travelling through. For the pilot, this is the most important instrument of all and especially during landing. Generally without the correct indicated airspeed the aircraft would stall and fall to the ground. For a given aircraft there are limits to the airspeed in terms of the lower(stall) speed and the upper(do not exceed) speed.
- Think of this instrument as measuring your pace through life.
- You can do it fast and not know anything or slow and enjoy the journey.
- Sometimes you will want and need to vary speeds according to your current situation.
- As with most speeds there is a time for the initial acceleration and there will be a maximum speed for you.
- The green arc represents your most comfortable pace and is what’s recommended in the “handbook”.
- The maximum and minimum limits of your speed are initially set in childhood but you may need to adjust them from time to time.
Attitude Indicator
The attitude indicator (AI) shows the airplane’s orientation relative to the horizon at a glance. This instrument is also known as the artificial horizon and provides a means constant cross-referencing that pilots must perform to control their aircraft without external visual references. Keep the blue side up! Smaller aircraft e.g. microlights will not have this instrument as they are expected to fly in good weather and not attain any weird attitudes. The outside horizon line is their reference.
- Think of this instrument as measuring your balance through life.
- How do you see things? are they straight and level or angled most of the time?
- Sometimes you may want to steer clear of things carefully and honestly as the true you.
- After a coordinated turn you will want to get on the straight and level before your head starts spinning.
- When moving about violently, you could be having a turbulent, sickly time and may fall from the sky.
- A change of balance will involve getting support from knowledge, your family and friends and online support groups.
Altimeter
The altimeter (ALTI) is an instrument that measures altitude – an aircraft’s distance above sea level. Most altimeters measure altitude by calculating the air pressure outside the aircraft. To do this, they compare the pressure of outside static air to the standard pressure. Air pressure decreases as altitude increases. The faster the altimeter dials move the quicker the vertical speed of the aircraft. Any aircraft will also have a given maximum altitude.
- Think of this instrument as measuring your emotional level throughout your life.
- What was the highest level? when were you the truly happiest? this is a clue to your best level.
- Also what were the lowest “altitudes” you can reach and why – this will be an indicator to change.
- Perhaps you haven’t explored either limit yet and are outside the range of “unknown unknowns”.
- Its usually the best case to try for a consistent level once you have detected it, this will be a sweet spot between high and low readings.
- As you set you “height” goal, remember that long term happiness may always be better than short term pleasure.
Turn Coordinator
The Turn Coordinator(T/C) displays the rate of turn and roll and the coordination of the turn of the aircraft. The display is that of a miniature airplane as seen from behind and a ball that moves left and right. The wings show the direction of turn and rate. The ball measures the force of inertia caused by a turn and hence the slip. The ball should be in the centre during a coordinated turn. Following a turn, everything should be level and the ball still in the centre.
- Think of this instrument as measuring your adaptation and change throughout life.
- When you make a decision and follow it through, ensure it is a balanced approach.
- Work out what is the best and most optimum rate for changing your path, say for changing a habit.
- You may not have to change direction much, but a little to start with makes a huge difference later down the road.
- After the change, allow things to settle down, wings level, ball in the middle, then make further adjustments as needed.
- Long term directional stability changes bring more general happiness than jagged changes of movement.
Heading Indicator
The Heading Indicator(HI) displays current heading of the aircraft on a gyro compass. It is not the same as a magnetic compass and knows nothing about north, south etc. A magnetic compass on the other hand often oscillates or leads or lags in a turn and it is especially hard to read in turbulence or during most turns. You would use this to set a navigation point and then follow the needle to get there. A card marked with headings maintains its orientation as the airplane turns. By using a map and locating way-points you can continually make adjustments to where you think you should be heading next.
- Think of this instrument as measuring your goals throughout life.
- You are trying to keep on a desired heading but maybe you are being deflected.
- Maybe you have to steer round things?
- After going around temporary things, you should get back on track and adjust the path to get there.
- After the change, keep progressing towards the target and check with your potentially new goals.
- Perhaps your goals have changed? if so steer a new direction and repeat until happy.
Vertical Speed Indicator
The Vertical Speed Indicator(VSI) displays the vertical speed, both up and down of the aircraft. The display shows a dial with an upward or downward hand pointing towards some numbers. For level flight and balanced level turns you should keep the pointer on zero. During level flight the dial may show up or down due to the air mass around the aircraft (thermals). When this is happening, you can get some free(unpowered) lift!. The VSI is important when taking off and landing and when you are requested to achieve a certain height at a certain time.
- Think of this instrument as measuring your rate of change of feelings and +/- thoughts throughout life.
- As you live and breath, some things will make you happier or sadder, wiser or cynical, knowledgeable or dumb.
- You can speed things up by lifestyle choices, slow it down similarly or change things on a new venture.
- Read the zero mark as “stable” and in general we may want to aim for this as there will be no surprises.
- Perhaps you want to achieve something but your subconscious is sabotaging it, the gauge will show a downwards reading.
- Your aim therefore would be to know when it is correct to show positive and negative readings – you should have the right support.
Poem
Our Readers
POSOWOCO Correspondent!
To Sender
POSOWOCO Approved
Foreword
Anyone like to see instruments move and rotate indicating some external state?
Or want some knowledge of an aircraft's situation is measured?
Or to see what instruments a pilot needs and gets?
Or to contemplate how we could all do with instrumentation to guide our lives?
Instrumental Life
When a guidance does not come,
From us or the earth or our fun,
And our heights more relaxed more alive,
And of our new holding meaning we strive.
A decision based on measuring ourselves,
Can only be done using instrumental dials,
Set to feel us and judge our swell,
And to give us a line and beam to dwell.
We could preserve our moves and heart and form,
And use our mirrors and juices to judge and swarm,
Whether we are holding the course or do not drift,
In a silent locked cage of steady flowers we gift.
Outside the dark hour of the wine and glass,
Our gauges present a picture of old that pass,
A tale to be taken on the face and time,
Of all we can do and can touch on our line.
This instrumental life is a lesson we think,
But do not drink enough of its pools of ink,
Preferring instead to watch and wave,
At the final tides claims near the grave.
There are many books on life lakes and stars,
But we have our own known made behind bars,
The mirrors of which we are all made,
With the state of the path we then masquerade.
Can I believe it is me that is real?
Using the instruments of life to breathe and to feel,
And I'll steer on my course, with a grunt and a smile
And not with the folly of tears all the while.
31st January 2021
Notes
We can all love instruments and gauges, they directly appeal to our eyes and have evolved purposely.
The instruments in this post represent a means of measuring an aircraft's state in the world at any single instance.
Put together they are showing what's happening to the flying machine and with skill, what is to happen next.
They are used for something to aim for, for something to monitor and for something to trust in.
When the instruments move, the aircraft is alive.
When stationary they are indicating a fixed state, possibly stable, possibly not.
In this post we talk about what they could mean in relation to your life in a thoughtful way.
Have a look, listen and read the poem about the Instrumental Life.
Haiku
Instrumental Life
a guidance does us --
and our heights more relaxed
of our new holding
