Quiz: Can You Answer These 6 Flight Instrument Questions?

Let's see how you do...

Christopher Neugebauer / Flickr

1) Your pitot tube ices over, sealing the inlet and the drain, but your static ports remain clear. In a constant airspeed climb, your airspeed indicator will:

Correct! Your airspeed will increase. The airspeed indicator measures ram pressure (from the pitot tube) against static pressure (from the static ports). The greater the pressure difference, the faster the airspeed. If your pitot tube completely ices over, the ram pressure becomes trapped and won't change. However, as you climb, your static pressure decreases. That increases the pressure differential in the airspeed indicator, causing the airspeed to slowly increase.

Incorrect. Your airspeed will increase. The airspeed indicator measures ram pressure (from the pitot tube) against static pressure (from the static ports). The greater the pressure difference, the faster the airspeed. If your pitot tube completely ices over, the ram pressure becomes trapped and won't change. However, as you climb, your static pressure decreases. That increases the pressure differential in the airspeed indicator, causing the airspeed to slowly increase.
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
2) In a gyro-driven attitude indicator, if you rapidly accelerate with a level pitch attitude:

Correct! As you rapidly accelerate, precession on the gyro can cause the pitch attitude to briefly increase a few degrees. The change doesn't last long, though - the erecting systems quickly compensate.

Incorrect. As you rapidly accelerate, precession on the gyro can cause the pitch attitude to briefly increase a few degrees. The change doesn't last long, though - the erecting systems quickly compensate.
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
3) Calibrated airspeed corrects indicated airspeed for:

Correct! Calibrated airspeed corrects indicated airspeed for position and installation errors. Equivalent airspeed (EAS) factors in compressibility (only an issue for high-speed aircraft), and true airspeed (TAS) factors in non-standard pressure and temperature.

Incorrect. Calibrated airspeed corrects indicated airspeed for position and installation errors. Equivalent airspeed (EAS) factors in compressibility (only an issue for high-speed aircraft), and true airspeed (TAS) factors in non-standard pressure and temperature.
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
Boldmethod

Correct! This is a Horizontal Situation Indicator - which overlays navigation information on a heading indicator. Electronic flight displays can emulate a HSI, and you can still find them on older transport and business aircraft.

Incorrect. This is a Horizontal Situation Indicator - which overlays navigation information on a heading indicator. Electronic flight displays can emulate a HSI, and you can still find them on older transport and business aircraft.
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
5) You are in the Northern Hemisphere, flying north, and start a turn towards the east. Your magnetic compass will:

Correct! In the Northern Hemisphere, "dip error" causes your magnetic compass to lag behind the turn on northerly headings, and lead the turn on southerly headings. The error's strength varies by heading. The largest affect occurs when turning through north or south. Dip error doesn't affect the compass when turning through east or west.

Incorrect. In the Northern Hemisphere, "dip error" causes your magnetic compass to lag behind the turn on northerly headings, and lead the turn on southerly headings. The error's strength varies by heading. The largest affect occurs when turning through north or south. Dip error doesn't affect the compass when turning through east or west.
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
Boldmethod

Correct! This is a RMI - a Radio Magnetic Indicator. It displays your relative bearing to a radio station - including VORs and NDBs - overlaid on a heading indicator. You can still find RMIs on older general aviation and transport category aircraft - and many electronic flight displays emulate their functionality.

Incorrect. This is a RMI - a Radio Magnetic Indicator. It displays your relative bearing to a radio station - including VORs and NDBs - overlaid on a heading indicator. You can still find RMIs on older general aviation and transport category aircraft - and many electronic flight displays emulate their functionality.
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod
1. Boldmethod
2. Boldmethod