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Which gyro principle do attitude and heading indicators use, compared with turn coordinators?

Rigidity for attitude and heading, precession for rate instruments.

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  1. Attitude and heading use precession; turn coordinators use rigidity
  2. All of them use rigidity
  3. Attitude and heading use rigidity; turn coordinators use precession ✔

Why: A rigid gyro stays fixed in space while the airplane rotates around it, which shows attitude and heading. Rate instruments use precession: the gyro tilts in proportion to how fast the airplane rotates.

Huh, didn't know that: Precession moves a gyro 90 degrees from where a force is applied, in the direction of rotation.

The dad joke
Why did the gyroscope win the debate? It never changed its position.
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References

Answer: Attitude and heading use rigidity; turn coordinators use precession. A rigid gyro stays fixed in space while the airplane rotates around it, which shows attitude and heading. Rate instruments use precession: the gyro tilts in proportion to how fast the airplane rotates.

  1. FAA Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B) www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/pilots/FAA-H-8083-15B.pdf
    Attitude and heading indicators function on the principle of rigidity
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. FAA Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B) www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/pilots/FAA-H-8083-15B.pdf
    turn coordinators, operate on the principle of precession.
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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