Definition
Gyroscopic flight instruments that show the rate at which the aircraft is rolling and yawing, allowing the pilot to judge the rate of turn and the quality of coordination between aileron and rudder. The gyro is mounted at an angle (canted) so the instrument senses both roll and yaw, with a miniature aircraft symbol that banks to indicate turn direction and rate, and an inclinometer ball below it that shows whether the turn is coordinated, slipping, or skidding.
Plain English
An instrument that tells the pilot how fast the aircraft is turning and whether the rudder and ailerons are being used together correctly. The little aircraft symbol shows the turn; the ball underneath shows if your feet and hands are working in harmony.
Context Anchor
Seen on the instrument panel and used during instrument flying, especially when the pilot must control turns by reference to instruments.
Derivation
Called a 'turn coordinator' because it shows both the turn (rate of rolling and yawing) and the coordination of the controls. It replaced the older 'turn-and-slip' indicator, which only sensed yaw. The canted gyro lets it 'coordinate' both pieces of information into one picture.
Why Pilots Care
Allows the pilot to maintain coordinated turns, preventing slips or skids that reduce control effectiveness and can lead to spatial disorientation in instrument conditions.
Grounding Statement
The gyro senses yaw while the ball responds to centrifugal force and gravity to show side-to-side balance.
Intuition Check
Do not read a turn coordinator as a bank-angle instrument. It mainly shows turn rate and balance, not the exact angle of the wings.
Example Sentence 1
After losing the attitude indicator in cloud, the pilot used the turn coordinator to keep the wings level and hold heading.
Example Sentence 2
When the ball slid to the outside of the turn, the pilot added rudder pressure until the turn coordinator showed coordinated flight.