Which statement best describes the difference between a turn coordinator and a turn-and-slip indicator?

Which statement best describes the difference between a turn coordinator and a turn-and-slip indicator?

• A. The turn coordinator measures heading while the turn-and-slip shows rate of turn.
• B. The turn coordinator senses roll and yaw via a canted gyro and shows bank via the miniature airplane; The turn-and-slip indicator shows rate of turn and slip only.
• C. Both measure altitude.
• D. The turn coordinator is a mechanical device while the turn-and-slip is electronic.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that these two instruments have different sensing axes and different display information. A turn coordinator uses a canted gyro (tilted so it can sense both roll and yaw). Because of that tilt, it responds to rolling as you enter a turn and to yaw as the turn develops, and its miniature airplane tilts to show the bank of the wings. It also indicates rate of turn, but the visual cue for bank is the bank angle shown by the airplane symbol. A turn-and-slip indicator, on the other hand, uses a vertical gyro to measure yaw rate and includes a slip/skid ball to show lateral acceleration. It does not display bank information; it shows rate of turn and slip only. So the best description is that the turn coordinator senses roll and yaw with a canted gyro and shows bank via the miniature airplane, while the turn-and-slip indicator shows rate of turn and slip only. Heading and altitude are not what these instruments measure.

The key idea is that these two instruments have different sensing axes and different display information.

A turn coordinator uses a canted gyro (tilted so it can sense both roll and yaw). Because of that tilt, it responds to rolling as you enter a turn and to yaw as the turn develops, and its miniature airplane tilts to show the bank of the wings. It also indicates rate of turn, but the visual cue for bank is the bank angle shown by the airplane symbol.

A turn-and-slip indicator, on the other hand, uses a vertical gyro to measure yaw rate and includes a slip/skid ball to show lateral acceleration. It does not display bank information; it shows rate of turn and slip only.

So the best description is that the turn coordinator senses roll and yaw with a canted gyro and shows bank via the miniature airplane, while the turn-and-slip indicator shows rate of turn and slip only. Heading and altitude are not what these instruments measure.