The Pilot 6 Pack

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This image indicates the required instrumentation needed to not only fly an aircraft, but also to bring it safely back to earth, and hopefully along the journey you didn't get lost but made it to your desired destination.

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The six pack as it is known, is the very basic equipment needed and help with the following outcomes. Listed from top left to top right and then again from bottom left to bottom right as follows.

Airspeed Indicator

Air flow over the wings is directly linked to the lift generated on the aircraft as explained in an earlier post of mine Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! - Why do Airplanes Stop Flying as to prove the importance of this device, but it is also helpful with a great deal many other things for example, ground speed, wind speed, estimated time of arrival, when its safe to deploy flaps or bring the gear down etc.

The device basically works buy the airflow that rushes in through the pitot tube, this air creates a pressure that is then displayed on the instrument as an indicated air speed, similar principle as a common house scale.

Artificial Horizon

This helps the pilot identify the attitude of the aircraft in relation to the ground and sky known as the pitch of the aircraft, either nose up or nose down. Also it indicates if the aircraft's attitude is in a roll commonly known as a bank in relation to the wing tips and the horizon.

The brown side indicates the ground and the blue the sky, all the other markings are an indication of the amount of degrees that either the nose is pitched up or down, or the wing tips are banked and the steepness of the turn in relation to the horizontal plain.

Altimeter

This helps the pilot determine his altitude above the ground to insure he can again return to earth safely and avoid any obstacle that might protrude from the ground such as mountains, masts, buildings, trees etc.

Turning Coordinator

This specific instrument indicates it movement of the tail of the aircraft (the yaw) and if it's coordinated with the nose of the aircraft. This is an often overlooked instrument as the incorrect use of the rudders could render the aircraft uncontrollable and vital in keeping the correct heading in windy conditions.

Heading Indicator

360 degree compass displayed on a flat plain as to indicate the aircraft's heading or the direction you are flying, this is useful if you plan to make it to your desired destination. This is not the only heading instrument in the aircraft there are other instruments to assist but this is the most common and most used in general aviation.

Vertical Speed Indicator

With the help of this instrument the pilot can determine at what rate the aircraft needs to climb or descend, in more common terms how quickly the aircraft is coming back to earth or ascending into the sky. A normal decent rate would be around 500 feet/min, should the indicator show a decent rate of 2000 feet/min, in a general aviation aircraft it would feel like your belly wants to climb out of your mouth, not many people would like that experience, that is if they live to tell the tale.

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All other instruments help with various other important aspects of flying such as the condition of the engine, the fuel levels, navigation, the electrical power and pressures that help the initial six instruments to work etc.

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