The document discusses the standard six primary flight instruments including the airspeed indicator, attitude indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator, turn coordinator, and heading indicator. It explains what each instrument measures, how it works, and how to read it. For example, it states that the airspeed indicator uses pitot tubes and static ports to measure speed through the air, while the altimeter measures air pressure to determine altitude. It also provides some sample instrument readings and poses quiz questions about using combined instruments to replace one that has failed.

1. Aircraft Instruments Groups A and B: First Year Beginning

4. The airspeed indicator shows speed through the air --- not over the ground. The pitot tube on the wing catches on-rushing air. This “ram air” is compared to “static” air to determine air speed. The static port measures static or still air – air that is not affected by the airplane’s speed through the air

6. The altimeter measures air pressure outside the airplane and compares it to air pressure at sea level to determine altitude. Like the hands of a clock, the long hand shows smaller increments (100s of feet) while the shorter hand shows larger increments (1,000s of feet). The hand with the triangle on the end shows the largest increments (10,000s of feet). This altimeter is reading 1,719 feet.

7. The vertical speed indicator uses changes in air pressure to indicate rate of climb or descent. VS is measured in feet per minute This airplane is descending at 180 feet per minute.

8. The turn coordinator shows if the wings are level or banked. The position of the ball indicates if the airplane is coordinated during a turn. The ball is centered when the turn is coordinated by the rudder. Turn Coordinator

9. The heading indicator shows you which direction you’re going relative to Earth’s latitude and longitude lines. Since Earth is a sphere, there are 360 numbers, each being a different direction. For example, east is 90 and south is 180. On the heading indicator, the last 0 is omitted. Runway numbers work the same way that the numbers on the heading indicator do. The last 0 is omitted and the numbers on the runway match the number on the heading indicator, +/- 5 degrees. When landing here, your heading indicator should read 27 because you’re landing on runway 27, which is actually 270 degrees.