What does the turn coordinator indicate that the traditional turn indicator does not?

• A. It indicates rate of turn with bank angle and yaw, and provides a more responsive reading during turns
• B. It shows pitch information
• C. It displays altitude
• D. It shows vertical speed

Answer: (B)

The turn coordinator is built with a tilted gyro, so it senses both yaw (rate of turn) and roll (bank). That means its display gives you two useful pieces of information: how fast you’re turning and how much you’re banked as you roll into the turn. The miniature airplane on the face banks in the direction you’re rolling, giving an immediate cue to your bank angle, which the traditional turn indicator can’t show because it only indicates rate of turn.

Pitch, altitude, and vertical speed aren’t shown by the turn coordinator. Pitch is depicted by the attitude indicator, while altitude and vertical speed are shown on the altimeter and the vertical speed indicator, respectively. So the standout difference is the added bank (roll) information that helps you gauge and coordinate the turn more accurately.