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When flying by reference to instruments, which instrument is the direct substitute for the natural horizon and serves as the master reference for pitch and bank?

Choices

  • ✓ The attitude indicatorcorrect

    The attitude indicator shows pitch and bank on a miniature airplane and horizon bar, exactly as the real horizon would, and is the master reference.

  • The vertical speed indicator

    The VSI shows rate of climb or descent, not attitude.

  • The heading indicator

    The heading indicator shows heading only, not pitch and bank.

  • The altimeter

    The altimeter shows altitude, not attitude.

Why

The attitude indicator directly replaces the natural horizon, displaying pitch and bank, and is the master reference around which the instrument cross-check is built.

FAA source: Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3 Ch. 3 (the four fundamentals) / PHAK Ch. 8 (attitude indicator; standard-rate turn)browse the reference library →

This is taught in Controlling the Airplane by Reference to Instruments — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.

When flying by reference to instruments, which instrument is the dire… · PPL Free Ground School