Airpseed Indicator: Much like the speedometer in a car. The various colored arcs on the gauge give speeds for different types of flight. The green arc is the normal operating range, the white arc is for flying with the flaps down, yellow is the caution range, and red is "never exceed" speed.

Altimeter: Gives the height of the airplane above sea level. This instrument is essentially a barometer. Atmospheric pressure decreases predictably as you go up, and this is how the instrument gives you a reading. The altimeter pictured indicates 1600 feet.

Ammeter: This gauge shows the amount of electrical load on the airplane.

Attitude Indicator: A gyroscopic instrument, it gives a visual representation of the plane's "attitude", or position in the air.

Auto Pilot: Yes, a plane this small can have an auto pilot!

Brakes: The top part of the rudder pedals are toe brakes.

Carburetor Heat: The carburetor on many planes is subject to icing under humid conditions, even when the air temperature is as high as 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Carb ice lowers engine performance, and could even cause the engine to stop in extreme circumstances. The heater clears ice, and this switch is part of many planes' before-landing checklist.

Com Radios: There are two communications radios in our Piper Warrior. They are used to talk to other planes, Flight Service Stations, and Air Traffic Control. The radio pictured is set to the common air traffic frequency for Monticello Airport in upstate New York.

Engine Gauges: These gauges show the oil and fuel pressure, oil temperature, and fuel quantities for each tank.

Flap Operating Handle: It looks like the parking brake of a car, but in the plane it raises and lowers the flaps.

Fuel Pump: This an electrical backup to the engine driven fuel pump. It is always turned on during takeoff and landing in case the primary pump fails. The switch is shown in the off position.

Fuel Tank Selector: The Warrior can only draw fuel from one tank at a time. It should be switched every hour so the plane doesn't go out of balance from having too much fuel in one tank. The fuel flow can also be switched off completely in an emergency.

Heading Coordinator: Also called a "directional gyro", it is the instrument that gives your heading. It performs essentially the same function as a compass. So why not just use a compass, you ask? We do - the plane also has a magnetic compass. Huh? The reason for having both is that a magnetic compass is subject to various errors because of the movement of the plane. Since the heading coordinator is not magnetic, but gyroscopic, the plane's movement doesn't affect it. However, it IS subject to another type of error, called "precession". So the magnetic compass is necessary to set the heading coordinator, although this can only be done when the plane is in straight & level, unaccelerated flight.

Magnetos: Magnetos are spinning magnets that generate electricity. The plane has two mags for both redundancy and better performance. Although the plane can run on only one mag, both are normally used.

Master Switch: Controls all electricity on the plane. If this switch were turned off during flight, the plane would still operate normally, except all electric instruments would be turned off (such as the radios, transponder, slip indicator, etc.).

Nav Radios: There are two navigational radios in the Piper Warrior. They are used to track VOR's, listen to weather updates and sometimes controllers on the VOR frequencies. The radio pictured is set to 134.02 - the Huegenot VOR in upstate New York.

Parking Brake: Just like in a car.

Primer: The primer is used to manually pump gas into the fuel lines before starting the engine, usually on cold days.

Radio Channel Selector: These buttons allow you to select the channel(s) you listen to and transmit on.

Rudder Pedals: You use your feet to move the rudder, which controls yaw (movement of the plane's nose from left to right). The pedals also control steering when taxiing on the ground.

Rudder Trim: At cruise the rudder can be set with some "trim", or preset position, to correct for wind.

Slip Indicator: In most modern planes this instrument is called a "Turn Coordinator". It appears slightly different but performs the same function. The arrow indicates your rate of turn, while the little ball registers yaw movements as controlled by the plane's rudder. If the ball is centered, you have a coordinated turn.

Tachometer: Displays engine RPM. This is a crucial instrument because the power setting regulates whether you will climb, descend, or remain in level flight under most circumstances.

Throttle & Mixture Control: The black handle is the throttle, and the red lever is used to regulate the fuel/air mixture that reaches the carburetor. The mixture is at the full lean/engine cutoff position. During takeoff, landing, and climb the lever would be pushed forward into the "full rich" position.

Transponder: This instrument sends out a signal that can be read by Air Traffic Control. It gives your plane an identity when seen on radar. When contacting ATC, they assign a 4-digit code which you then "squawk" on the transponder so they can keep track of you. The transponder pictured is set to squawk code 1200, which is the default code for VFR flight whenever ATC doesn't need to identify your plane on radar.

Vacuum Gauge: Indicates the amount of vaccum air available to spin the gyros. The gauge pictured is at 0 because the plane is on the ground with the engine (and vaccum pump) off.

Vertical Speed Indicator: This gauge tells you at what rate the plane is climbing or descending. The VSI pictured has its needle centered, indicating level flight (or in this case, neither climbing nor descending while sitting on the ground!).

VOR Indicator: There are two VOR tracking instruments in our Warrior. A VOR is a navigational aid on the ground that sends out radio signals. The instrument in the plane picks up these signals and allows you to home in on it, and determine your position in relation to the VOR station.

Yoke: Controls pitch (movement of the nose up and down) and roll (banking of the wings). The little button at the upper right is used to key the microphone so you can speak on the radio.