Instrument Displays for Blind Flying

Extract

In the early part of this century aircraft were flown only when the pilot could control them by reference to outside sources—the ground, the sky and the horizon. Soon, however, instruments were developed which enabled him to fly in cloud or darkness. The Second World War with its blackout enforced this need for total blind flying and, as a consequence instruments and techniques were perfected, ending with what was known as the standard blind flying panel. This has remained substantially unchanged in the majority of aircraft up to the present day. This paper reviews the presentation and the principles which led to its development and then discusses some recent developments in this interesting field. First it is necessary to look at the problem in more detail.