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ENGINE INSTRUMENTS
Vertical scale indicators

Airman - Aviation theories and other practices
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Tachometer The tachometer (fig. 7-14) is an instrument for showing the speed of the power section of a gas turbine engine. A small alternator or generator attached to the engine's accessory section produces a voltage proportional to the speed of the power section. This voltage powers the pointer on the tachometer and registers the percent of rpm being developed. A  dual  tachometer  is  used  in  turbojet  and multiengine aircraft. Fuel Quantity Indicator The fuel quantity indicator (fig. 7-15) is a capacitor-type gauge system. An electronic fuel-measuring device displays fuel quantity in pounds. The dial of the indicator is calibrated from 0 to 6 (times 1,000) with line increments every 100 pounds. Vertical Scale Indicator On most new model naval aircraft, radial dial indicators  have  been  replaced  by  vertical  scale indicators. The vertical scale indicator is used to show engine performance data, fuel flow, engine speed, exhaust gas temperatures, and accelerometer readings. Vertical scale indicators are compact, lightweight, and easily read. Figure 7-16 shows a few examples of the vertical scale indicators now in use. GYROSCOPES If not for using the properties of a spinning wheel, precise navigation and instrument flying would be very difficult. Two very important instruments that use the properties of a gyroscope are the attitude indicator and the turn and bank indicator. Attitude Indicator A pilot determines aircraft attitude by referring to the horizon. Often, the horizon is not visible. When it is dark, overcast, smoky, or dusty, you cannot see to use the earth's horizon as a reference. When one or more of these conditions exists, the pilot refers to the attitude indicator. The attitude indicator is also known as a vertical gyro indicator (VGI), artificial horizon, or gyro horizon. Attitude indicators show the pilot the relative position of the aircraft compared to the earth's horizon. Attitude indicators may be different in size and appearance, but they all have the same components and present the same basic information. As shown in figure 7-17, a miniature aircraft represents the nose (pitch) and wing (bank) attitude of the aircraft with respect to the earth's horizon. A band on the face of the indicator shows the degree of bank. The sphere is shaded light on the upper half and dark on the lower half to show the difference between sky and ground. The calibration marks on the sphere show degrees of pitch. Each indicator has a pitch trim adjustment so the pilot can center the horizon as necessary. 7-10 ANF0714 Figure 7-14.—Tachometer, jet engine type. ANF0715 Figure 7-15.—Fuel quantity indicator.







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