Roy Smith wrote:
: I don't know why, but I never did use the AI much. I rely on the TC,
: altimiter, DG, and airspeed to give me my picture, and leave the AI sort
: of in the background. As a result, when the AI is covered, I fly
: equally well. One CFI commented that I fly better on partial panel then
: on the full panel.

: I have much the same experience. My instrument instructor was a nut
: for partial panel practice, so I got really good at it. I miss the DG
: when it's covered up, but for the most part, I fly the TC for bank and
: the ASI for pitch.

: After all these years, I honestly can't tell you how many bars up it
: takes to get Vy or what bank angle it takes for a standard rate turn.

Whew... I thought I was the only one! In straight/level, I rarely look at the
AI except once in awhile to cross-check. For straight/level it's useless, just as the
T&B/TC is for bank. It's really only good for setting up an attitude (whether it be
intentional transition or an "Oh crap... I busted my altitute/heading!")

-Cory

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* Cory Papenfuss *
* Electrical Engineering candidate Ph.D. graduate student *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
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