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• Fly the Cybercockpit
• Visit Chandler Air service, a complete flight training facility
• Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force - home of B-17G Sentimental Journey
• Website of the Civil Air Patrol, US Air Force Auxiliary

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This is a typical light airplane instrument panel. To learn more about flying, click on an instrument on the panel above...

...or on one of the words bellow:

• Airspeed Indicator
• Attitude Indicator
• Altimeter
• Vertical Speed Indicator
• Heading Indicator
• Turn Coordinator
• Tachometer
• Engine gauges
• VOR
• ILS
• ADF
• Radios
• Transponder

The Airspeed Indicator

This instrument tells the pilot at which speed the airplane flies through the air. This value is different from the ground speed because the air surrounding the aircraft can be moving in relation to the ground (wind).

The Attitude Indicator

Also called the Artificial Horizon, this gyroscopic instrument tells the pilot if the airplane is in a nose high or nose low attitude, or if the airplane is banked to the left or to the right. This is the basic instrument used to fly airplanes in the clouds.

The Altimeter

The Altimeter indicates at what height the airplane flies compared to sea level. It can be adjusted for changes in barometric pressure.

The Vertical Speed Indicator

This instrument tells the pilot if the airplane is climbing or descending, and if so, at what speed (in feet per minute).

The Heading Indicator

This is a gyroscopic instrument that is used like a compass, only more precise and more stable during climbs, descents and turns. It is also called a directional gyro.

The Turn Coordinator

In a turn, this instrument gives the pilot an indication of the rate of turn (how long it will take to turn 180° for example). It also includes the ball, that shows if the flight is coordinated (symmetrical) or not.

The Tachometer

This instruments allows the pilot to precisely set the engine RPM.

The Engine gauges

These gauges are used to monitor engine performance. The fuel quantity and oil temperature are among the most important ones.

The VOR

The VHF Omni Range is a radio navigation instrument. Its Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) gives the pilot an indication on the position of the airplane in relation to a ground station. The VOR is the primary system used to define airways.

The ILS

The Instrument Landing System is a very sensitive VOR that also includes vertical information. It is used for precision approaches and landing in bad weather conditions.

The ADF

The needle of the Automatic Direction Finder always points towards the ground station on which frequency the receiver is operating (acting like an "artificial North pole"). This radio-navigation instrument is also called a radio-compass.

The Radios

There are two kinds of aircraft radios: voice transceivers that are used by the pilot to talk with Air Traffic Controllers, and radio-navigation equipment which are the VOR or ADF receivers.

The Transponder

Whenever it is interrogated by a RADAR, the Transponder sends back a 4 digit code along with altitude information. This allows Air Traffic Controllers to identify the aircraft displayed as echoes on their RADAR screens.

This page was prepared by François Bergeon, a Certified Flight Instructor in Arizona who is also a search and rescue pilot in the Civil Air Patrol.

This page was put online in December 1996