Definition
The small fixed miniature airplane displayed on the face of the attitude indicator that represents the pilot's own aircraft. Its position relative to the horizon bar shows the aircraft's pitch and bank attitude. The aircraft symbol itself does not move; the horizon bar and background move behind it to show changes in attitude.
Plain English
It is the little airplane drawn on the attitude indicator. It stays still while the background tilts and pitches behind it, so you can see how your real aircraft is oriented compared to the horizon.
Context Anchor
Seen on the attitude indicator during instrument flying and basic attitude instrument practice.
Derivation
Aircraft means a machine that can fly. Symbol comes from an old Greek word meaning a mark or sign that stands for something else. Together, aircraft symbol means a mark on the instrument that stands for the airplane itself.
Why Pilots Care
When flying on instruments, the pilot reads attitude by comparing the aircraft symbol to the horizon bar. Knowing that the symbol is fixed and the horizon moves behind it prevents confusion about which way the aircraft is actually banking or pitching.
Intuition Check
The aircraft symbol is not the horizon. It represents your airplane; the horizon line is the outside-world reference shown on the instrument.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor told the student to set the aircraft symbol on the horizon bar to establish level flight.
Example Sentence 2
A slight left bank appeared when the left wing of the aircraft symbol dipped below the horizon line.