An aircraft instrument providing a head-up attitude display. The instrument provides a pitch and roll attitude reference coincident with the true horizon in a pilot's actual field of view through a cockpit windscreen. The principal indicator is a movable, horizontal baton which is driven from a standard gyroscopic attitude reference. The baton has two degrees of freedom, one up and down in the vertical plane for pitch attitude changes and a tilting movement for roll attitude changes. With the two degrees of freedom and the baton positioned immediately adjacent the windscreen, an artificial horizon is provided in the direct field of view of the pilot with all the advantages of peripheral vision inherent in a head-up system. The batons are illuminated to accentuate the image of the batons in the peripheral vision of the pilot.
A system for tactilely alerting an aircraft pilot that the aircraft is in an uncoordinated turn condition and for indicating to the pilot the control adjustments required to correct the turn condition. The system includes a device for sensing the turn condition of the aircraft and a pair of tactile sensation generators in the vicinity of the pilot's legs. The condition sensing device controls activation of one or the other of the tactile sensation generators which indicates to the pilot which foot to depress on the rudder control to return to coordinated flight.
A tool for use by a pilot as a reference for maintaining a desired aircraft attitude is provided. The tool is a simple mechanical tool that can be removably mounted adjacent to an aircraft windshield, in the pilot's field of view. The tool comprises a central shaft upon which at least one marker pin is mounted. The marker pin is slideably coupled to the shaft in such a manner that it can be independently adjusted to provide a reference for the pilot to set up the plane for the correct approach angle and/or attitude for a particular phase of flight. The marker pin is adjustable to achieve, for example, a climb attitude, a best glide attitude, a descent attitude, a level flight attitude and a banking setting such as to maintain the altitude in a bank for example.
