RCA 2600 Series Installation/Operation Guide | KMC | |
KELLY MANUFACTURING COMPANY |
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SECTION 1: INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION
1.1GENERAL DESCRIPTION
An attitude indicator, also known as a gyro horizon or artificial horizon, is an instrument used in an aircraft to inform the pilot of the orientation of the airplane relative to the earth. It indicates pitch (fore and aft tilt) and bank (side to side tilt), and is a primary instru- ment for flight in instrument meteorological conditions. Attitude indicators also have significant applications under visual flight rules.
The RCA 2600 Digital Electronic Attitude Indicator receives digital information from a series of accelerometers which is processed to actuate a display that has two dimensions of freedom, simultaneously displaying pitch and bank. The display is colored to indicate the horizon as the division between the two colored segments (blue for sky and brown for ground), and is intended to be intuitive to use. The actual bank angle is calibrated around the circumference of the instrument dial. The pitch angle is indicated by a series of calibration lines, each representing 5° or 10° of pitch. Unlike digital multifunction type displays, the RCA 2600 display is not cluttered with additional information so that the pilot has instant attitude recognition.
Because the RCA 2600 has no mechanical gyroscope, it is much more stable than traditional horizons. The unit is designed to work in 360 degrees of pitch and roll and, unlike a mechanical unit, the RCA 2600 can tolerate angles in pitch and roll that would cause a gyroscopic unit to tumble.
On the attitude indicator you will see two yellow horizontal lines with a dot between them. The horizontal lines represent the wings and the dot represents the nose of the aircraft. If the symbolic airplane dot is above the horizon line (more blue background) - the aircraft is nose up. If the symbolic airplane dot is below the horizon line (more brown background) - the aircraft is nose down.
When the dot and wings are on the horizon line, you are in level flight. If the lines representing the wings roll to the left or the right, the aircraft is probably starting a turn.
1.2PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
The RCA 2600 indicator is a direct reading instrument which provides a visual display of aircraft pitch and roll in reference to the horizon. The instrument utilizes a series of accelerometers and complex mathematical formulas to determine pitch and roll. There is no external inputs to the instrument. Refer to table 1.1 below for leading particulars. There are two basic models of the RCA 2600 Series; the RCA
OPERATING VOLTAGE | 9 to 32VDC | |
STARTING CURRENT | 9VDC: 0.18 to 0.22 AMPs MAX | |
RUNNING CURRENT | (14VDC SYSTEM) | ...................0.20 AMP MAX |
| (28VDC SYSTEM) | ...................0.15 AMP MAX |
CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE | 2 AMP | |
SETTLING ERROR | 1º MAXIMUM IN ROLL AND PITCH | |
OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE | ||
MATING CONNECTOR | ||
WEIGHT | 6.5 oz | |
| 4.5 oz | |
DIMENSIONS/PANEL CUTOUT | SEE FIGURE 1 | |
EYE VIEWING ANGLE ENVELOPE | Horizontal Left and Right: 35° Left, 35° Right | |
| Vertical Up and Down: 35° Up, 35° Down | |
| Minimum distance from display surface: 6 inches | |
| Maximum distance from display surface: 48 inches | |
FAA SPECIFICATION CONFORMANCE | ||
EASA SPECIFICATION CONFORMANCE | ||
MEETS OR EXCEEDS | AS8034A and AS396B | |
TABLE 1.1, LEADING PARTICULARS
Rev C | KMC Publication | Page 3 of 10 |
