Flight instruments - spot the bloopers

albatross710

Established Member
Joined
May 15, 2004
Posts
3,701
IMG_7734.jpgIMG_7733.jpg


This pic is posted for entertainment in the covid era.

I saw these snaps in my photo album from an Emirates A380 flight BNE-DXB.

At the time I took them it stood out that the 'Indicated Airspeed' of 488 knots on the HUD display, is calculated as 562 on the dial display. I'm thinking that this is actually a representation of 'ground speed'

I'm also thinking if the direction gyro in Fig 2 was ever a "vacuum" instrument.

Can you spot any other little bloopers to this passenger presentation?
 
Last edited:
At the time I took them it stood out that the 'Indicated Airspeed' of 488 knots on the HUD display, is calculated as 562 on the dial display. I'm thinking that this is actually a representation of 'ground speed'
Not my area, but isn't 488 knots (picture 1) the same/equivalent as 562 MPH (picture 2)? If one is in knots and the other in MPH then this is correct.
 
Not my area, but isn't 488 knots (picture 1) the same/equivalent as 562 MPH (picture 2)? If one is in knots and the other in MPH then this is correct.

It is...but it's still incorrect. The speed displayed to the pilots is never TAS, but it should be IAS. Which in this case would be around 270 knots.

The compass was never a vacuum instrument, unless the place you were going to sucked.
 
IMG-3511.jpg

Ok, you are getting with the program now @samh004 & @jb747 .

I wont say where I saw this displayed but it is a bit more old school. It being out of context I'll make it multi-choice.

It is
a) airspeed and flight path drift
b) an early GPS display (very early) displaying speed in knots and relative direction.
c) a British designed doppler navigation display
d) really a voltage regulator unit
 
C.

Specifically Green Satin doppler radar, as used by the RAF V bombers and the Canberra.
 
Last edited:
It is...but it's still incorrect. The speed displayed to the pilots is never TAS, but it should be IAS. Which in this case would be around 270 knots.

The compass was never a vacuum instrument, unless the place you were going to sucked.

The word 'Vacuum' on that display always had me puzzled. Understandable on the way to DXB; not so on the way to PER. 😜
 
It's obviously a doppler (to older pilots anyway). It also has a bit of a British look to it. After that google was my friend.
 
IMG-3629.jpg

When I visited the Smithsonian a few years ago I picked up this set of drink coasters. I like them.

Question: ( @jb747 can you wait 2 days.)

If you were in an aircraft, what is the current aircraft dynamic? For a bonus point what airport/runway could we be near?
 
Is it two days yet?

The instrumentation is old. So, not a recent aircraft. Perhaps not a recent snapshot of time. Denver’s elevation is slightly over 5,400’, but the altimeter is showing 5,280’. The QNH setting is reasonable.

Not Denver, but I have an alternative.
 
If it is a helicopter it could be hovering, facing North at 5,280 anywhere could it not.
 
If it is a helicopter it could be hovering, facing North at 5,280 anywhere could it not.

Straitman may be up to the task,… ;) but I suspect the average chopper pilot could not achieve such instrumental perfection.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

A helicopter would not be hovering 'wings level

So I will be the bunny and bite.. why not ?
If it wasn't level it would be going somewhere (left or right)...surely..
So the horizon in a chopper should be where when hovering ?
And the supp question..
Is a gyro AH set for longitudinal geometric level aircraft or some conceptual longitudinal angle of attack such as cruising attitude.
It's a little while since I saw one working…. er 60 years in fact……. so I request that I be allowed consideration for age based thickness ...
 
So I will be the bunny and bite.. why not ?
If it wasn't level it would be going somewhere (left or right)...surely

Tail rotor. It's there to counter the torque of the main rotor, but it does provide a small lateral thrust. That is countered by a degree or two of wing down.

Is a gyro AH set for longitudinal geometric level aircraft or some conceptual longitudinal angle of attack such as cruising attitude.

It shows the actual geometric position. So, a 747/380 cruises at a pitch angle of about 2.5º nose up.

It would be possible to align an old pull and cage system to another zero datum, but you'd get some very strange, and undesirable, outcomes.
 

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..
Back
Top