The Journey of Flight.pdf - Valkyrie Cadet

Instrument Panel of the B-25 Mitchell Bomber (EAA)
gyroscope with the ground he would always know up from down. The gyroscope would stay level
while he moved the aircraft around it.
Pressure Instruments. Pressure instruments work on the idea that a fluid, such as air, exerts pressure.
Pressure decreases with height, and pressure instruments use this principle to tell the pilot about the
performance of the aircraft. How could pressure changes tell the pilot how high he is flying?
Electrical Instruments. Electrical instruments operate on the principles of electricity, including
magnetism. Electrical instruments often take the place of mechanical and pressure instruments, and
are being used more and more in modern aircraft. They are usually more accurate and give the aviator
a way to precisely control his aircraft.
By viewing the instruments in these ways, one can see that each has a separate functional purpose
and means of operation. Even though the instrument panel of today’s aircraft looks complicated and
confusing, pilots need to know all of the information the instruments provide. If you had to know what
every gauge or dial read at every moment, you would be overwhelmed. Engineers design warning
systems that monitor critical instrument readings and alert the aviator of problems. This allows the
pilot to focus on flying, monitor other indications and focus on problems when they happen.
Classification by Use. Instruments classified by their use fall into two major groups: performance
and control instruments. Performance instruments tell us how the aircraft has responded to our
commands. Control instruments tell us the current state of some aircraft devices, so that we are aware
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