artificial horizon

n.
An instrument displaying a line on a flight indicator that lies within the horizontal plane and about which the pitching and banking movements of an aircraft are shown. Also called gyro horizon.

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A device that provides the pilot with symbols representative of the attitude of an aircraft relative to an artificial horizon. In an automatic or artificial horizon a vertical gyro moves a horizon bar relative to a fixed aircraft index. Motion of the bar simulates changes in pitch or roll of the aircraft. As the pilot views the indicator, the horizon is seen relative to the aircraft as the horizon would appear if the pilot could see it through the windscreen. See also Gyroscope.

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A device for indicating the horizon, as a bubble, pendulum or the flat surface of a liquid.

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See attitude indicator.

i. A gyro-operated flight instrument that shows the pitching and banking attitudes of an aircraft with respect to a reference line horizon, within limited degrees of movement, by means of the relative position of lines or marks on the face of the instrument representing the aircraft and the horizon. The instrument normally uses an earth gyro and in some cases a tied gyro. One of the primary instruments that helps a pilot to fly at night, in cloud, or when the natural horizon is not visible.
ii. A device, such as a spirit level or a pendulum, that establishes a horizontal reference in a navigation instrument.

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