ATTITUDE INDICATOR

 Formerly known as ‘’Gyro horizon’’ or ‘’Artificial horizon’’.

 Is a flight instrument that informs the pilot of the aircraft orientation relative to the
Earth’s horizon and give an immediate indications of the smallest orientation change.
 Shows rotation about both the longitudinal axis to indicate the degree of bank and
about the lateral axis to indicate pitch(nose up level or nose down).

Roles of the indications:

1. Lines pitch- indicate the degree of pitch up or down, relative to the horizon.
2. Index- shows the aircraft angle of bank.
3. Pointer- moves in the same direction of bank shown by the miniature aircraft.
4. BANKING SCALE- Shows the change in bank attitude.
5. Miniature aircraft-mimic the relationship of the aircraft relative to the actual
horizon.
 6. ADJUSTMENT KNOB-Account for the pilots line of vision, moves the aircraft
up and down to align it with the horizon bar.
7. Artificial horizon- informs pilot of the aircraft orientation relative to the Earth’s
horizon.

The rotor, mounted in a sealed housing, spins in a horizontal plane about the vertical axis. The
housing pivots about the lateral axis on a gimbal, which in turn is free to pivot about the
longitudinal axis. The instrument case is the third gimbal necessary for universal mounting. The
horizon bar is linked to the gyro by a lever, attached to a pivot on the rear of the gimbal frame
and connected to the gyro housing by a guide pin.

When the attitude indicator is in operation, gyroscopic rigidity maintains the horizon bar parallel
to the natural horizon. When the pitch or bank attitude of the aircraft changes, the miniature
aircraft, being fixed to the case, moves with it. These movements of the instrument case with
respect to the gyro are shown on the face of the instrument as pitch and bank attitude changes of
the miniature aircraft with respect to the horizon bar.