Straight and Level Flight - P-340

CHAPTER TWO

T-34C INSTRUMENTS

As stated in the section concerning trim, the ball is centered using peripheral vision during any

transition on the gyro. Thus, consider the ball as part of the attitude scan during the initial

transition. From then on, it is scanned with the turn needle.

Straight and Level Flight

To maintain straight and level flight, we shall be most concerned with those instruments that will

aid us in maintaining constantheading, constantaltitude flight. Our primary attitude instrument

for both nose and wing position is the attitude gyro, which gives us the most direct indication of

our attitude in relation to the horizon. Since the gyro suffers from precessional errors, it is of

extreme importance to use other attitude instruments as crosschecks for our gyro. Since straight

and level flight maintains a constant heading, we shall utilize the RMI as a wing position

crosscheck instrument; in other words, any deviation from a constant heading on the RMI will

indicate our wings are not in the level attitude, provided the aircraft is in balanced flight.

Our nose position crosscheck in straight and level flight consists of using the altimeter in

conjunction with the verticalspeed indicator. Any change in constantaltitude flight will be

indicated initially by a movement on the altimeter and verticalspeed indicator. Our

performance instrument will be the airspeed indicator, showing us the result of our attitude plus

the power applied. (Additional scan instruments are the balance ball for balanced flight and the

turn needle.)

Level Turn

The level turn scan is similar to the straight and level scan in that the nose attitude is maintained on

the attitude gyro and crosschecked with the altimeter and verticalspeed indicator. Wing attitude is

maintained on the gyro for constant AOB turns.

If a constantrate turn is desired, the turn needle is utilized as the wing position crosscheck.

Performance scan in a constantrate turn also includes the RMI and clock to check the rate of

turn. The ball is a peripheral attitude instrument when rolling into the turn on the gyro and then

scanned with the turn needle throughout the maneuver.

Straight Climbs and Descents

During climbs and descents on a constant heading, our primary indicator for nose and wing

position is the attitude gyro. The wing position is crosschecked on the RMI and the nose attitude

is crosschecked on the airspeed indicator. During constantrate climbs and descents, we also

check the performance with the altimeter and clock. The verticalspeed indicator may be used to

crosscheck the rate of climb or descent. The additional scan includes the turn needle and balance

ball.

2-6 BASIC INSTRUMENTS GENERAL PROCEDURES