How does an energy variometer work? - Aviation Stack Exchange In a comment to an answer regarding instrumentation complexity, an "energy variometer" was mentioned, labeled in knots What does this dial actually show, and how does it work? The image accompany
flight instruments - What is the nature of the gliders vario lag . . . " The average mechanical variometer is about three seconds too late " What is the nature of this lag? Wouldn't a gentle blow into the static port make the needle move immediately (certainly without a delay of a few seconds between strongest blow and strongest needle deflection)?
How does this total energy compensation pitot tube work? The part that plugs into the aircraft looks something like this: From there, the pressures can be used to drive a normal airspeed indicator, total energy compensated variometer, or any other pressure instruments The excellent answer here describes how a backwards-facing pitot probe can be used to make a total energy measurement
Whats a normal response delay for a paragliding vario? It is an Altimeter-Variometer-GPS combo As you know, these devices warn the pilot with beeps during climbing and sinking I'm using the device for a couple of months but I recently noticed an interesting thing: When I enter the thermal I first feel the climb with my harness and risers But the device starts to beep with a delay of 1-2 seconds
What instruments or avionics do balloons usually have? For normal sightseeing flights in a typical hot air balloon, what instruments or avionics does the pilot usually carry? Do balloons have a minimum equipment list?
Can you fly a glider in a cloud on primary instruments? My flight instruments in my hang glider were an aircraft altimeter with 20 foot resolution, a variometer that was sensitive to about 50 foot per minute climb descent rate, and very sensitive airspeed indication by human ear I lacked any turn or bank or artificial horizon
weather - How are thermals found? - Aviation Stack Exchange Gliders will have an instrument that measures vertical speed so that they can tell "how good" a thermal is as well (a variometer or a Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)) Some of the things to look for: Color variation on the ground because the difference in the amount of heat absorbed by the ground varies based on the color composition
Is there any difference between VSI and VVI? "VVI" seems to be more military See What is VVI in Aviation? and Vertical Speed Indicator This instrument has various other names like a "rate of climb descent indicator" In Europe, we use the local name for variometer, and "positive vario" is often part of the takeoff procedure to indicate the aircraft is airborne
What is the glide ratio of a DA42? - Aviation Stack Exchange @Jan Hudec The ratio of 1,32 (more precisely, the fourth root of 3) is the quotient maximum range speed maximum endurance speed Hence, if you determine experimentally the maximum endurance speed by watching the variometer while gliding with the engines idling, you can derive the maximum glide speed just by multiplying the maximum endurance speed by 1,32
How to accurately test glide ratio in given configuration? How can glide ratio be accurately measured with typical GA airplane instruments in real conditions? What, if any, specialty instruments are used for professional glide ratio testing (such as a