Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of a directional gyro in aviation?
What is the primary function of a directional gyro in aviation?
- To measure the speed of the aircraft during flight
- To provide a visual representation of the aircraft's altitude
- To indicate the aircraft's heading with gyroscopic stability (correct)
- To correct for wind drift during navigation
How is the gyro in the directional gyro instrument driven?
How is the gyro in the directional gyro instrument driven?
- By air-driven pressure changes in an airtight case (correct)
- By an electric motor
- By the rotation of the aircraft itself
- By atmospheric air pressure and changes in altitude
What must be done to ensure the directional gyro provides accurate heading information?
What must be done to ensure the directional gyro provides accurate heading information?
- It must be calibrated regularly.
- It must be adjusted based on weather conditions.
- It must be set to the airplane's magnetic compass. (correct)
- It must be connected to the aircraft's GPS.
What limitation does the directional gyro have when used in flight?
What limitation does the directional gyro have when used in flight?
What kind of errors affect the magnetic compass used in conjunction with the directional gyro?
What kind of errors affect the magnetic compass used in conjunction with the directional gyro?
Study Notes
Directional Gyro
- A flight instrument that incorporates an air-driven gyro stabilized in the vertical plane.
- The gyro is rotated at high speed by lowering the pressure in the airtight case and allowing atmospheric air pressure to enter the instrument against the gyro buckets.
- The spin axis of the gyro continues to point in the same direction despite the aircraft yawing.
- Relative motion between the gyro and the instrument case is shown on the instrument dial, which resembles a compass card.
- The dial must be set to agree with the airplane magnetic compass to provide a positive indication free from swing and turning error.
- The directional gyro does not have a sense of direction and needs to be set to the magnetic compass.
- Although the magnetic compass is prone to errors due to magnetic fields and electrical instruments, the directional gyro is only accurate for the heading it has been set for.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the directional gyro, an essential flight instrument that maintains orientation despite aircraft movement. This quiz covers its operational principles, importance for navigation, and relationship with the magnetic compass. Understand how gyroscopic instruments enhance flight safety.
