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2 Answers

Vertical Card Compass

Asked by: 8980 views
Aircraft Systems

I have found a lot of information about the fluid filled compass, but cannot find much in the way of how the vertical card compass is constructed or actually works.  Any thoughts or resources?

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2 Answers



  1. Bill Trussell on Mar 28, 2013

    Interesting question…

    The only good reference I could find is the US patent application available using this link:

    http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3875676.pdf

    Appears to be a good starting reference. Note the technology has been around since the 1970’s but seems more popular these days.

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  2. ccwebb on Mar 29, 2013

    …because in its complexity, the vertical swing compass card is simple. You can find 4 pages of f the mag-compass in the Instrument Flying Handbook, but only a small paragraph on the vertical swing compass.

    The short answer, the V-compass uses flux gates like a bird to sense magnetic lines, thus eliminating compass errors.

    http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/FAA-H-8083-15B.pdf

    pages 5.11 – 5.14 and page 5.15

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