Basic Six

Basic Six is the term used for the set of six flight instruments used as the basis for the standardization of the modern aircraft cockpit.

In 1937 the Royal Air Force (RAF) chose a set of six essential flight instruments which would remain the standard panel used for flying in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) for the next 20 years. They were:

* airspeed indicator (knots)
* artificial horizon
* vertical speed indicator (rate of climb)
* altimeter
* directional gyro (compass)
* turn and bank indicator (aircraft attitude)

This Basic Six set was also adopted by commercial aviation. After the Second World War, however, the arrangement was changed to:

* top row: airspeed, artificial horizon, altimeter.
* bottom row: radio compass, direction indicator, vertical speed.

This standard was later refined to produce the "Basic T" pattern.

ee also

* Flight instruments
* Cockpit

References