What does the attitude indicator primarily display?

• A. Pitch and bank
• B. Altitude
• C. Vertical speed
• D. Heading

Answer: (A)

The attitude indicator is about your aircraft’s orientation relative to the horizon, specifically its pitch and bank. It uses a gyroscope to provide a stable reference, with a fixed miniature airplane and a moving artificial horizon. When you pitch up or down, the horizon line moves up or down to show nose position; when you roll, the horizon tilts to show the bank angle. This instrument keeps you oriented even when outside visibility is poor. Altitude is shown by the altimeter, vertical speed by the VSI, and heading by the heading indicator, so those are separate displays.