Is lateral acceleration an accurate indication of slip?

I am a former student pilot (with about 15 hours) who is developing an autonomous UAV.
I've read contradicting reports that lateral acceleration is and isn't an accurate indication of slip. The inclinometer ("the ball") in a full scale/manned airplane measures lateral acceleration.
I've read that gliders use a string on the canopy instead of a turn and bank indicator.
Can you have that ball dead center, and still be slipping?

In article ,
jschall wrote:

I am a former student pilot (with about 15 hours) who is developing an
autonomous UAV.
I've read contradicting reports that lateral acceleration is and isn't
an accurate indication of slip. The inclinometer ("the ball") in a full
scale/manned airplane measures lateral acceleration.
I've read that gliders use a string on the canopy instead of a turn and
bank indicator.
Can you have that ball dead center, and still be slipping?

You can fly in a a yawed condition, with the ball centered. Try it!

On Jul 20, 3:42*pm, Orval Fairbairn wrote:
In article ,

*jschall wrote:
I am a former student pilot (with about 15 hours) who is developing an
autonomous UAV.
I've read contradicting reports that lateral acceleration is and isn't
an accurate indication of slip. The inclinometer ("the ball") in a full
scale/manned airplane measures lateral acceleration.
I've read that gliders use a string on the canopy instead of a turn and
bank indicator.
Can you have that ball dead center, and still be slipping?

You can fly in a a yawed condition, with the ball centered. Try it!

And there I was thinking anything lateral in a slip was a bit on the
side