Airplane angle of attack and direction of flight indicator

The method of determining the angle of attack of an airplane having an airplane control center with respect to the direction of flight, comprising,

• measuring the angle of attack of the airplane at the exterior of the airplane,
• providing a light shield means movably responsive to the changes in the angle of attack measured at the exterior of the airplane,
• providing elongated optic fibers from the area of said light shield means to said control center,
• providing a light source adjacent said light shield means whereby said light shield means will interrupt or permit the passage of light from said light source to the ends of said optic fibers adjacent said light shield means in response to the measurement of said angle of attack, and whereby the magnitude of said angle of attack can be visually observed from the illuminated ends of the optical fibers adjacent said control center.

In combination with an airplane having a fuselage and a cockpit area, a device for determining the vertical direction of flight of the airplane comprising,

• air actuated means is communication with air outside said fuselage and being responsive to the angle of attack of the airplane moving through the air,
• visible indicator means in said cockpit area,
• means connecting said air actuated means and said visible indicator means whereby changes in the angle of attack of the airplane moving through the air can be visually observed on said visible indicator means, and
• a sighting device in said cockpit area arranged in relation to said indicator means such that a line of sight may be established through said sighting device and said indicator means, said line of sight corresponding to the vertical direction of flight of said airplane.

The method of determining the vertical direction of flight of an airplane having an airplane control center with respect to the direction of flight, comprising,

• measuring the angle of attack of the airplane at the exterior of the airplane,
• providing means movably responsible to the changes in the angle of attack measured at the exterior of the airplane,
• visually projecting the angle of attack of said airplane at said airplane control center on an indicator means, and
• sighting through a sight means and said indicator means to establish a line of sight corresponding to the vertical direction of flight of said airplane.