Part 66 Module Demo

14.2.1 The Basic Six

 

There are six flight instruments whose indications are so co-ordinated as to create a “Picture” of an aircraft’s flight condition and required control movements.  These instruments are:

 

The first real attempt at establishing a standard method of grouping was the “Blind Flying Panel” or “Basic Six”.  The “Gyro Horizon Unit (GHU) occupies the top centre position, and since it provides positive and direct indications of the aircraft’s attitude, it is utilised as the “Master Instrument”.  As control of airspeed and altitude is directly related to attitude, the “Indicated Air-Speed (IAS), Indicator, Altimeter and Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) flank the GHU.

 

Changes in direction are initiated by banking the aircraft, and the degree of heading change is obtained from the “Direction Indicator” (DI).  The DI supports the interpretation of the roll attitude and is positioned directly below the GHU.  The “Turn & Bank Indicator” serves as a secondary reference instrument for heading changes, so it also supports the interpretation of roll attitude.

 

 

Figure 2 shows the layout of the basic 6 instrument groupings.

Basic 6 instrument groupings

Figure 2

14.2.2 The Basic ‘T’

 

With the development and introduction of new types of aircraft with more comprehensive display presentation, afforded by the indicators of flight director systems, a review of the functions of certain instruments and their relative positions within the group resulted in the adoption of the “Basic T” arrangement as the current standard.

 

There are now four key indicators:

 

 

Figures 3 and 4 show the layout of the Basic ‘T’ instrument groupings.

Basic ‘T’ instrument groupings

Figure 3

Basic ‘T’ instrument groupings

Figure 4