Useful in an emergency?
 

I just downloaded an Attitude Indicator app for my Samsung phone. As far as I can tell, it gives reliable pitch and roll indications and would be of more use than the turn and slip with a failed vacuum pump in poor vis. You just need to mount it correctly in the vertical and horizontal plane. Comments?

Sooo, are you going to mount it correctly before or after the emergency?

I'll mount the mount correctly:hmm:

If you're talking about IFR then learning to fly everything except takeoff on the partial panel is in the long run far more useful...:cool:

VFR?...WTF?...:confused:

Want something truly useful in an emergency?...Never run out of airspeed, altitude and ideas all at the same time...:ooh:



:zzz:

I've not tried it but reports of similar iPhone apps suggest the iPhone accelerometers & gyros struggle with the vibration in a typical cockpit.

I did wonder though about trying (in VMC, of course!) an NDB approach using just Air Navigation Free. It can't be worse than an RBI...

Tim

Try it in a real aeroplane... If you are in a coordinated turn it will show you straight and level!

It works but only for a short time (due to gyro drift) and you have to initially reset it to "straight and level" i.e. it has no self erection ;)

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...ff/ipad-ai.jpg

do these gadgets have gyros or are they just using accelerometers to sense local gravity?

You could even have a bank of smart phones.
Artificial Horizon :p
GPS Speedo :=
VOR (yes there is even an app for this) :eek:
and probably many more, though for accuracy, would you trust them?

Okay, I accept that there is a whole new breed of gadgets out there, which computer wizards have adapted to appear to provide useful information in an aviation environment.

However, IF pilots expect to fly in a "safe", compliant environment in certified aircraft, they need to resist the temptation of un approved gadgets in primary information roles.

If you have got yourself into a situation where both operationally, and aircraft condition/operationally you need to rely on such a gadget, you were already in way over your head, and should be reverting to your training (which very certainly DID NOT include the use of such gadgets) to get yourself out.

If you are a VFR only pilot who has blundered into IMC, and thereafter had a system failure which leads you to need such a gadget, you were a fool, and the gadget is not going to be of any help, as you are already overwhelmed. and you're going to loose control anyway for lack of training.

Fly the aircraft within its and your limitations. The aircraft limitations will be based upon how it is equipped and approved.

I flew a turbine helicopter 1900 miles north to south in western Canada in October - with no attitude indicator. I just maintained visual contact with the ground and a useable horizon. I did not refer to the additional Garmin GPS functions which mimicked "instruments". Allowing one's self to be lured further into poor visibility because you have a non aircraft approved gadget in your pocket is very foolish.

What Happens if someone calls you when your using it? :hmm:

I would agree with Dar on this one. These gimicks are too much of a distraction, don't provide the correct information when you need it, & are nothing more than something to impress your girlfriend with in the bar. I have a compass on my phone, it doesn't work worth a damn.

Newer iOS devices (iPhone 4 and up, if I remember correctly, and iPad 2+) do have gyros not just accelerometers. As such they should be immune from the problem of being fooled by a coordinated turn.

Tim

Whats wrong with a piece of wool?

An accelerometer is a gyro.

The Iphone does have accelerometers but like all solid state accelerometers they are fairly crap in long term stability.

Having to reset the device when one thinks one is flying straight and level is close to useless.

It may be in the same package but

Not in my world! Unless you have a real gyro an accelerometer will only tell you attitude if you are unaccelerated, using gravity. That means no turns, transitions to climbs or descents, bumps, and so on. Should work great at the coffee table.

-- IFMU

Learn how to fly on a partial panel!!!

Peter, that is not correct. They are completely different devices.

The iPhone has always had three accelerometers. Starting with the iPhone 4, a MEMS (microelectromechanical system) gyro was introduced.

For more information and some fascinating electron microscope images, see here:

iPhone 4 Gyroscope Teardown - iFixit

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...phone4gyro.png

JHC

PA _ I was asking a simple question. Yes you are indeed correct and we should learn partial panel etc, et al, et blah blah. My question was, would having an app like this help the average Joe caught in a sticky situation....

At some point, even a flying goddess like yourself had to embrace new tech like the map, radio, radio nav and maybe even GPS.

You obviously have no need for any "mod cons" and we are all w34565s for embracing new tech.

In the meantime, if I do get caught out with a tech / weather issue, I'll use whatever tech is there to get me home safe. Unless you give me your 24hr mobile ....:=