A pilot experienced an in-flight emergency with the failure of critical gyroscopic instruments (attitude indicator and directional gyro) due to a vacuum pump malfunction, complicated by an inoperative ...

Many critical gyroscopic flight instruments, particularly air- or vacuum-driven ones, are prone to mechanical failure (e.g., vacuum pump), which can lead to instrument disagreement. Such failures ...

Aviation instruments are highly interesting pieces of engineering, and it is quite satisfying to watch the often over-engineered mechanisms behind them. If you are into that sort of thing it is ...

[Ken] recently obtained an attitude indicator—sometimes called an artificial horizon—from an F-4 fighter jet. Unlike some indicators, the F-4’s can rotate to show pitch, roll, and yaw, so it moves in ...