cockpit
Compartment where the glider pilot sits among all the instruments necessary to pilot the aircraft and control flight.
radio
Apparatus that sends and receives signals to communicate with another glider or with a ground station.
turn and slip knob
Lever that maintains the position of the control stick to reduce pilot fatigue.
rudder pedal
Foot lever that the pilot presses down to control rudder movement.
tow release knob
Lever used to release the tow cable connecting the glider to the tow plane that brings it aloft.
mechanical variometer
Device that indicates the glider’s vertical rate of climb or descent by mechanical means.
electric variometer
Device that indicates the glider’s vertical rate of climb or descent by means of an electric sensor; it is more accurate than a mechanical variometer.
airspeed indicator
Device indicating the speed of the glider with respect to the air through which it is moving.
cockpit ventilation
Device that controls the opening and closing of air vents to provide air circulation within the cockpit.
seat
Place where the pilot sits to maneuver the glider; the pilot is strapped into the seat and wears a mandatory reserve parachute.
canopy release knob
Lever that detaches the cockpit canopy from the fuselage so the pilot can eject in case of emergency.
microphone
Device that converts electric pulses into broadcast or recorded sounds.
oxygen feeding knob
Device used to activate the system that provides the pilot with oxygen when the glider climbs to high altitudes.
turn and slip indicator
Instrument with a gyroscope connected to a pointer that indicates the rate and direction of turning; it also has a ball that shows if the glider is rolling sideways.
compass
Navigation instrument that indicates the glider’s direction with respect to magnetic north.
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