SIFT Aviation Instruments and Cockpit Familiarization 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which flight instrument uses a gyroscope to indicate the aircraft's pitch and bank attitude relative to the horizon?
- Attitude Indicator (Correct answer)
- Altimeter
- Airspeed Indicator
- Vertical Speed Indicator
Correct answer: Attitude Indicator
The attitude indicator (also called an artificial horizon) uses a gyroscope to display the aircraft's pitch and bank relative to the actual horizon.
Question 2: The altimeter measures altitude by sensing changes in:
- Magnetic field strength
- Atmospheric pressure (Correct answer)
- Air temperature
- Ground radar reflection
Correct answer: Atmospheric pressure
The altimeter works by measuring static atmospheric pressure; as altitude increases, pressure decreases, and the instrument converts this change into altitude readings.
Question 3: What does the airspeed indicator measure?
- Ground speed relative to the earth
- The difference between pitot (dynamic) and static pressure (Correct answer)
- Engine RPM converted to knots
- GPS-derived velocity
Correct answer: The difference between pitot (dynamic) and static pressure
The airspeed indicator measures the difference between pitot (ram) air pressure and static air pressure, which corresponds to the aircraft's speed through the air.
Question 4: Which of the following instruments is part of the 'pitot-static' system?
- Turn coordinator
- Magnetic compass
- Vertical speed indicator (Correct answer)
- Attitude indicator
Correct answer: Vertical speed indicator
The vertical speed indicator (VSI) uses the pitot-static system by measuring the rate of change in static pressure to display climb or descent rate.
Question 5: A turn coordinator displays:
- Aircraft heading relative to north
- Rate of turn and coordination of the turn (slip/skid) (Correct answer)
- Pitch and roll attitude only
- Engine torque during a turn
Correct answer: Rate of turn and coordination of the turn (slip/skid)
The turn coordinator shows the rate at which the aircraft is turning and whether the turn is coordinated, using a miniature aircraft symbol and a ball inclinometer.
Question 6: The heading indicator (directional gyro) must be periodically realigned with the magnetic compass because:
- It drifts due to gyroscopic precession (Correct answer)
- It is affected by the pitot tube blockage
- Magnetic variation changes rapidly in flight
- Altitude changes cause it to precess forward
Correct answer: It drifts due to gyroscopic precession
Gyroscopic precession causes the heading indicator to drift over time, requiring the pilot to periodically reset it to agree with the magnetic compass.
Question 7: In instrument flying, which three instruments form the 'primary' group in the 'six-pack' arrangement?
- Airspeed, attitude indicator, altimeter (Correct answer)
- Heading indicator, VSI, turn coordinator
- Airspeed, heading indicator, engine tachometer
- Altimeter, magnetic compass, VSI
Correct answer: Airspeed, attitude indicator, altimeter
The airspeed indicator, attitude indicator, and altimeter are the three primary flight instruments that directly indicate the aircraft's performance and are the focus of instrument cross-check.
SIFT Aviation Instruments and Cockpit Familiarization 1
Which flight instrument uses a gyroscope to indicate the aircraft's pitch and bank attitude relative to the horizon?