Emergency instrumentation for cloud encounters

I think our wires are a little crossed. That's still not a cold start, right? The AHRS is already on.

Anyway my main point is--

If you are flying with nothing, consider the solid state turn rate indicator that I linked to.

If you are flying with a vario-based AHRS-based artificial horizon, that's wonderful. But you might want to consider supplementing with a self-contained solid-state turn rate indicator in case the system goes belly-up or your battery dies.

Back to square one-- an experienced, highly trained, ex-military pilot blew up his sailplane in cloud in wave. I'm sure he never meant to enter the cloud. Wave cloud is squirrely. Who can argue that he would not have been much better off with some sort of turn rate indicator, than with nothing? I'm sure he had lots of partial-panel practice and experience, or at least simulated experience. If you want to argue that an artificial horizon would be better yet-- great. I agree.

S

On Monday, April 20, 2015 at 6:41:50 PM UTC-5, waremark wrote:
My LX 9000 with v9 is up within 2 or 3 seconds if I switch to a page which shows it while in a thermalling turn. I understand Dynons and other solid state horizons do the same. Why would you ever bring it up when in a spiral dive? I have no reason to doubt that it would perform correctly, but it sounds rather unlikely if equipped with an A-H to enter IMC without having switched it on.