Illusions

Question 1

What is inversion?

Answer 1

Climb to straighten level flight; feeling of tumbling backwards

Question 2

What is Coriolis?

Answer 2

Fluid in the ear matches the rate of turn (equilibrium); happens when turning or accelerating on a different plane or axis

Question 3

What is the elevator illusion?

Answer 3

An abrupt vertical acceleration; pilots feel like they’re being pushed, straight up like an elevator, or are in a climb,, so they pitched down

Question 4

What is false horizon?

Answer 4

Lights on a hill at night look like the horizon; pilots will line up with the wrong horizon

Question 5

What is the leans?

Answer 5

A slow entry into a turn, followed by an abrupt reposition to straighten level flight; creates the illusion of an opposite bank to what you really are doing

Question 6

What is auto kinesis?

Answer 6

Stationary lights look like they are moving

Question 7

What is a graveyard spiral?

Answer 7

A constant turn starts to feels like straighten level flight, but you are losing altitude; pilots will notice they’re losing altitude and pull up, which increases the rate of descent in the turn

Question 8

What is the somatogravic illusion?

Answer 8

Rapid acceleration; pilots, taking off an air carrier will have the illusion that they are in a pitch up attitude/climb, so they will pitch down to stop the climb