AC Instruments

Jimmy Doolittle

Jimmy Doolittle

Proved that blind flight was possible on September 24, 1929, using instruments like the artificial horizon and altimeter.

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)

Require specific instruments such as gyroscopic pitch-bank and directional gyro for flying in instrument meteorological conditions.

Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

Allow pilots to operate aircraft in generally clear weather conditions where outside visibility is sufficient.

Flight Instruments

Devices used to provide information on altitude, airspeed, vertical speed, and heading.

Types of Airspeed

Includes Calibrated Airspeed (CAS), Indicated Airspeed (IAS), True Airspeed (TAS), and Groundspeed (GS).

Altimeter

An instrument that measures altitude based on barometric pressure.

Attitude Indicator

Also known as the artificial horizon, it shows the aircraft's roll and pitch.

Turn Coordinator

Indicates rotation about the longitudinal axis and includes an inclinometer to assess coordinated flight.

Navigation Instruments

Tools used to determine an aircraft's exact location by measuring direction and distance.

Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR)

A standard radio navigation system for cross-country flying in the US.

Automatic Direction Finder (ADF)

A navigation aid that has been in use since the 1930s, utilizing non-directional beacons (NDB).

Engine Instruments

Measure operating parameters of the aircraft engine, including quantity, pressure, and temperature.

Engine Oil Pressure Gauge

Indicates oil pressure in psi, crucial for engine lubrication and cooling.

Tachometer

Measures the rotation speed of the engine shaft in revolutions per minute (rpm).

Exhaust Gas Temperature Indicator (EGT)

Monitors the exhaust gas temperature of an internal combustion engine in aircraft.

Manifold Pressure Gauge

Measures pressure inside the induction system of piston aircraft engines.

Fuel Gauge

Measures the quantity of fuel in the aircraft's fuel tanks.