In flying, the six primary instruments (the “six-pack”) are the Attitude Indicator (AI), Heading Indicator (HI), Turn Coordinator, Airspeed Indicator, Altimeter, and Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI).

When learning to fly old-school, the steam gauge six-pack is your lifeline; developing a good instrument scan of these instruments is the cornerstone of safe flying and the means of survival.

Jump forward 40 years and enter the new age of flying, the Glass Cockpit. Beautiful vivid colors and all your instruments on one centralized screen make you feel like a techno wiz, even if you’re not. And let’s just admit it: the glass cockpit makes you feel superior to the steam gauge pilots.

Dear Abby, the most widely syn Learn to use the dicated columnist in the world, once said, “Some wines improve with age, but only if the grapes were good in the first place.

The old-school six-pack often gets overlooked when learning in the new era of flight training utilizing the digitalized Glass Cockpit.

Both of these systems have advantages and disadvantages. All systems can fail, steam gauge or electrical, so learning both methods and keeping current in their use gives you the most significant benefit and safest flying.

Remember, a house built on sand will not stand. Learn to use the tried and true method and keep current.