In this guide, we will learn about some of the important instruments inside the cockpit and provide a descriptive guide on what you can expect when you sit inside the cockpit of any plane.
The instrument cluster on light aircraft has come a long way. The dashboard of the plane located inside the cockpit contains all the digital and analogue instruments on board and these instruments are the heart and soul of the aircraft.
In the beginning, the instrument cluster was much more streamlined and simpler with most early planes featuring just a handy analogue compass that would help pilots orient themselves while flying. However, as technology progressed, light aircraft manufacturers started to add more and more technology to the cockpit.
Today, modern aircraft have a range of advanced digital and analogue instruments that give pilots full control of their aircraft. In fact, if they choose to do so, pilots can also engage an autopilot and have the onboard computer fly the plane – considering that aircraft technology has only been around for a century and a half, that is a huge leap in progress!
In this guide, we will learn about some of the important instruments inside the cockpit and provide a descriptive guide on what you can expect when you sit inside the cockpit of any plane.
The Evolution of the Cockpit
In the early history of aircraft, cockpits were virtually non-existent because the designs of earlier light aircraft didn’t have a seat for the pilot. Let us explain.
Since the dawn of civilisation, humans have been dreaming of flight, but it would take at least a couple of centuries for mankind to begin realising its lofty ambitions. Flying was indeed possible, after all, there were several aircraft designs at the time that could fly! However, a common element in all early light aircraft designs was that they didn’t account for the pilot. These aircraft were tethered to the ground and the only way to bring them down would be to either gently reel them back into the ground, or literally crash them into the ground.
The reason for this was simple: we just didn’t have a deep enough understanding of how aircraft could sustain flight, and even if an aircraft could fly for a few minutes, there was no way to control it. Of course, this all changed around the end of the 19th century when engineers, scientists, and aviation fanatics began compiling the various innovations in materials, engine technology, and mechanics to form the basis of what would later become a flight-ready aircraft design.
The Wright brothers are credited to be one of the first people to crack the code of flight and design not just an airplane that could fly, but also a revolutionary 3-axis control system that a pilot could use to guide the plane.
This was seen as a breakthrough technology by all accounts because it would finally enable the first manned flight. The risks were high since failure would likely result in death, so the Wright brothers took extra time to perfect their design and in 1903, they successfully flew the first-ever light aircraft, affectionately called Kitty Hawk.
After their initial success, the world knew that aviation would be the future of mankind which is why they began focusing on building not just better aircraft, but also a system to help pilots navigate the skies safely. This is when engineers began exploring the idea of a cockpit.
The cockpit of the plane is more than just a seating place for the pilot, it is the control centre for the plane where the pilot can make quick decisions. Since navigation was the priority of the pilot, the humble compass was the first-ever instrument to be used in a plane.
However, it soon become apparent that pilots would require more in-depth information about their location in the sky. In order words, they would need more than just directional information, they would also require altitude. After all, knowing the altitude of the plane was just as important!
In 1928, Paul Kollsman introduced the first accurate barometric altimeter that would fit inside the cockpit and change the way aircraft were flown forever. In the same way as the introduction of the altimeter, the cockpit of aircraft began drastically changing over the years. You can think of the dashboard as a plug-and-play unit; throughout the years, as new gauges were introduced, they were fitted in the available space on the dashboard.
By the 1950s, we already had a modern layout of instruments in light aircraft and by the 1990s, large passenger airliners had begun introducing digital meters to further help pilots navigate the skies with extreme accuracy.
Light Aircraft – Common Instrumentation
Light aircraft come in many different forms but there are two designs that are the most common: fixed-wing and flex-wing light aircraft. The reason why we are mentioning these aircraft is because both of them have different instrumentation due to their design limits. For example, fixed-wing aircraft are built in the image of larger aircraft, which is why they have a wide range of instruments in the cockpit.
Most light aircraft feature at least six basic instruments (more on this below). These planes usually feature both digital and analogue instruments which is why pilots regularly use them to learn how to fly. In fact, the instrument cluster in fixed wings is the biggest reason why they are the de facto choice for pilots who want to master Instrument Flying.
An Instrument Flying Rating (IFR) trains pilots to fly aircraft using nothing but the readings on the instruments on the dashboard. This is an extremely useful skill to learn because it can enable pilots to fly outside of VFR (Visual Flight Rules), like in the dark, or low visibility.
Flex-wing aircraft, on the other hand, are simpler machines that are designed to be even lighter than fixed wings. These aircraft usually seat only two people, and they are known to not have a cockpit. That’s right, instead of an enclosed cabin, the pilot and passenger are exposed to the environment which is separated by a thin and short windshield.
Since these aircraft have a simple design, they don’t need as many instruments as fixed wings. Most flex-wing aircraft have just 2-3 instruments like a compass, a radio, and an altimeter. Some designs may feature even more instruments but in general, it is rare to find a diverse set of instruments in these planes compared to other larger light aircraft.
Light Aircraft Instrumentation: A Guide to the Cockpit
Modern light aircraft cockpits have truly surpassed their predecessors. Today, you can find a combination of both analogue and digital meters in the cockpit. Some meters, like the altimeter can be in both digital and analogue form which can help the pilot understand not just how high they are flying, but also how fast they are climbing.
Similarly, there are a range of other important and common instruments in light aircraft, here is a list of what you can expect to see in the cockpits of most aircraft:
Attitude Meter (AI)
Planes have attitude! The attitude meter or indicator is an extremely important instrument that shows the position of the aircraft relative to the earth’s horizon. The attitude meter displays the pitch and roll which is usually displayed using an artificial horizon on the meter.
This meter uses gyroscope technology to figure out the orientation of the plane. The same technology is used in mobile phones as well. The reason why your phone can flip the orientation of videos on your phone when you rotate the device is because of a gyroscope. In the same way, the gyroscope can also tell pilots the exact orientation of their plane which can help pilots in situations where they enter clouds or in low-visibility or tough weather conditions.
Air Speed Indicator (ASI)
As the name suggests, the air speed indicator displays the current speed of an aircraft when it is soaring through the air. Airspeed is another important instrument that can help pilots understand how fast or slow they are flying. Lowering and increasing air speed are crucial in taking off and landing aircraft which is why pilots need to keep a close eye on this instrument!
The airspeed indicator can also highlight issues in the speed of the aircraft even when the pilot doesn’t “feel” it. For example, when you are driving a car, you have several reference points like the road, lamp posts, trees, and other objects that can give you an intuitive sense of how fast you are going.
However, in the air, it can be difficult to ascertain the speed of the aircraft manually, especially when flying in clear weather. This is where the airspeed indicator comes in handy! If the aircraft does drop its speed, the pilot can immediately take corrective measures before running into issues.
Altimeter
We have already highlighted the importance of the altimeter which is frequently used by pilots to figure out how high they are flying. Altimeters are important tools because they can allow pilots to precisely fly at a certain height.
This feature is crucial because, in the modern world, there are several aircraft flying in and out of an area and each aircraft is given a fixed altitude to fly at for safety purposes. Just like the airspeed indicator, the altimeter can also be used to identify issues in an aircraft before they become an emergency!
Navigation Equipment
Modern aircraft are fitted with advanced navigational equipment that pilots can use to correctly orient themselves and figure out exactly where they are over the ground.
Navigation equipment can include basic instruments like a compass, which is still featured in airplanes due to their relatively fail-proof design. Some aircraft can also feature Vertical Navigation Displays (VNAVs) that can display various information regarding the climb, descent, and vertical profile of the light aircraft.
Communication Equipment
Whether it's a simple or complex aircraft, there is always a set of communication equipment in the cockpit! Communication is key in aviation, and some can argue that it is one of the aspects that makes modern aviation possible.
Communication equipment usually includes radios and transponders. Radio technology is still used for aviation because of its reliability and range. Pilots use radios to communicate with the groundcrew and for various permissions related to take-offs and landings.
Modern light aircraft also contain transponders that receive and/or send out a signal which can be calculated to figure out the position of the aircraft relative to a receiving station on the ground. Light aircraft can also have a Global Positioning System (GPS) which can enable pilots to track their route with extreme accuracy.
Engine-Related Instruments
This is probably the most important set of instruments on a plane. The engine is the heart of the aircraft which is why it has a range of dedicated instruments that display its overall status and health.
Instruments like the tachometer, oil meter, oil pressure gauge, engine temperature gauge, cylinder temperature, fuel indicator, and other meters are crucial in displaying the current status of the plane. Even before the aircraft takes off, pilots are required to check the health of the engine and see if any red flags may need attention.
Modern light aircraft are designed to be highly reliable and robust, which is why engine-related instruments rarely display a problem, but if there is an issue with the engine, these intricate meters can help highlight potential issues that might turn into an emergency.
For example, if the engine temperature is running hot, then the pilot can take corrective measures to ease up and allow the engine to cool down while in the air. The fuel gauge is also equally important because it can accurately display the current fuel levels in the aircraft and it can also be used to identify emergency issues, like a fuel leakage.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran in various types of light aircraft.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us at 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, fee structure, licencing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.
Photo by Taiki Ishikawa on Unsplash
