Plain English Meaning

The traditional round cockpit gauges with needles that sweep across a dial to show readings, rather than digital screens with numbers and graphics.

Full Definition

Flight instruments that display information using mechanical needles, pointers, and dials driven by physical inputs such as air pressure, gyroscopes, or magnetic forces. Each instrument is a self-contained device showing one specific parameter (airspeed, altitude, heading, attitude, etc.) through the continuous movement of a pointer across a calibrated face.

Context Anchor

Seen when the Instrument Flying Handbook compares traditional instrument panels with panels that use .