Gyroscopes In Aviation
Before gyroscopic instruments, like the gyrocompass and the artificial horizon were first installed in airplanes, pilots had to " Fly by the seat of their pants." Once they were brought into use, they proved more efficient and allowed pilots to "Fly on Instruments."
Gyroscopic Instruments
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Before the Gyroscope was Installed in Planes
Without the gyroscope, flight today would be impossible! All modern day flight uses gyroscopic Instruments. Before gyroscopic instruments were widely used, pilots had to constantly pay attention to every little detail when flying. If they could not see, they would have to land. The most experienced flyers could not pilot a plane for more than 8 minutes without a visual. Now thanks to gyroscopes, pilots can fly blindly just using their instruments.
The Gyrocompass
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Gyrocompass
1908 was one of the biggest years in aviation history. A German inventor by the name of H. Anschutz-Kaempfe, created the first ever Gyrocompass. A year later, an inventor known as Elmer Sperry recreated the gyrocompass and made the first auto-pilot. The gyrocompass acts the same way as a magnetic compass, except the gyrocompass is more accurate.
Magnetic variation and deviation are two major problems with magnetic compasses. Magnetic variation is caused because the earth's magnetic poles and its geographic poles are not the same. Navigation uses true north, but a magnetic compass points to magnetic north. If magnetic north and true north were vertically aligned, there would be "0" variation.
Another fault of a magnetic compass is Deviation. Deviation is caused when a magnetic compass is attracted to metal components in the vessel. The gyrocompass is not attracted to metal and can be set to point to true north.
Magnetic variation and deviation are two major problems with magnetic compasses. Magnetic variation is caused because the earth's magnetic poles and its geographic poles are not the same. Navigation uses true north, but a magnetic compass points to magnetic north. If magnetic north and true north were vertically aligned, there would be "0" variation.
Another fault of a magnetic compass is Deviation. Deviation is caused when a magnetic compass is attracted to metal components in the vessel. The gyrocompass is not attracted to metal and can be set to point to true north.
The Artificial Horizon
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Artificial Horizon
The Artificial Horizon is another flight instrument that uses a gyroscope. The artificial horizon is a tool used to know what action the plane is taking. If the indicator is below the line then it's diving. If it is above the line its rising. If the left wing is tilting down the plane is turning left. If the right wing is tilting down the plane is turning right.
The gyroscope in the instrument spins rapidly and remains in place regardless of a planes movement. The change in alignment to the gyroscope can be measured and displayed on the instrument. Before the Artificial Horizon, planes used wires in front to determine what action a plane was taking relative to the horizon. The problem with the wire is if you could not see the horizon, you couldn't fly.
The gyroscope in the instrument spins rapidly and remains in place regardless of a planes movement. The change in alignment to the gyroscope can be measured and displayed on the instrument. Before the Artificial Horizon, planes used wires in front to determine what action a plane was taking relative to the horizon. The problem with the wire is if you could not see the horizon, you couldn't fly.
Gyroscopes in Modern Day Aviation
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As a pilot of a CH-47 "Chinook" helicopter, my missions depend on each aircraft component operating at full capacity. One of those components are the multiple gyroscopes installed on the aircraft. Gyroscopes are a critical aircraft component. The on-board computers required by today's combat missions are dependent on the spatial location provided by gyroscopes. Because the computer has no sense of balance or spatial orientation, gyroscope's provide the computer with the aircraft's location in relation to the ground- Something I am always concerned with! Without this capability, US Army aircraft could not perform the challenging missions required by today's combat environment.
-Major Patrick J. Long, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
January 2013, Fort Campbell
-Major Patrick J. Long, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
January 2013, Fort Campbell
"A facet of my job was to maintain the internal gyroscopes by removing or replacing them, as they were imperative for UH1H flight."
-Adrienne Weston, Resigned U.S. Army E4 Specialist Former U.S. Army Crew Chief/Helicopter Gunner (1983-1986)
-Adrienne Weston, Resigned U.S. Army E4 Specialist Former U.S. Army Crew Chief/Helicopter Gunner (1983-1986)