Introduction to Pitot-Static Systems in Gliders

[anorlunda]

Like many others, I have been seeking new and fun things to do during a pandemic.   I decided on the new Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, but the Condor 2 Soaring Simulator is my intermediate step.  I am certified as a pilot, including gliders, but I have not flown for many years because of the expense.   These simulators will allow me to join much of the fun and to greatly increase my skills, while semi-quarantined.
Of course, physics is vitally important to all pilots, but in a glider, it is more so.  Much more so.   Especially cross-country racing in a glider requires extensive knowledge of physics and use of mathematics.  As an engineer, I am also interested in the design of the instruments and procedures as well as their use.   What I discovered after some brief research is that the use of air pressure in aircraft avionics is a topic including the old and new, the smart and dumb, man versus machine, as well as the universal engineering qualities common to any instrument:  ...

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[Lnewqban]

An excellent summary on instrumentation and more.
Thank you!

 

[waternohitter]

worth reading, thank you!

 

[anorlunda]

Here's a view of a more modern instrument cluster. Airspeed is the only purely pneumatic analog instrument remaining.

In addition to the functions described in the article, collision avoidance is an important new addition. Compare that to TCAS collision avoidance in airliners.

With all this digital stuff, a totally new control input device is needed in addition to stick and rudder; a mouse. The picture shows the built-in mouse for use by the pilot.

Not shown is a spot satnav device that attaches to the pilot's parachute. It has an emergency SOS button, and also a button to send texts to your friends saying, "I'm OK" or "I landed at GPS coordinates X,Y, please come with the car and the trailer. That's wonderful when out of cell phone or VHF radio range.

By the way, the idea of having a device that sends prearranged messages at the push of a button was invented by Thomas Edison. For example, "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up." Edison's device had 10 possible messages, so Edison also invented the device below to make it easy for untrained customers to use. I love the idea that a satnav device still uses Edison's invention.