PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Artificial Horizon versus Turn Coordinator in very light VFR aircraft.
Old 7th Sep 2010, 23:10
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WeekendFlyer
 
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Eeek!

Slightly concerned about the comment above that an iPhone can be used as an attitude indicator. Erm, yes it can, but only in a stationary situation where you can guarantee the acceleration vector is due to gravity alone, i.e. on the ground while not moving! The iPhone and other similar smart phones use a 3-axis accelerometer to detect the gravity acceleration vector and thus determine which way is up.

Of course, in an aircraft during flight the acceleration vector can move and change due to all sorts of factors, which is why the TC and AI are GYRO INSTUMENTS, not accelerometer instruments. Attempting to use an iPhone as an attitude data source in an aircraft in IMC is almost certainly going to kill you, so please don't try it!
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