How the Turn and Slip Indicator Works?

A simple version of a turn
indicator is a curved piece of
pipe with a ball in it. The
curve goes up. If the plane is
flying flat and level, gravity
pulls the ball to the bottom of the curve, indicating G-forces
and any turning forces are in
alignment and straight down
towards the bottom of the
plane. Now when you turn the
plane you have greater
turning forces effecting the
ball. if you turn properly,
tilting the wings in the
proper amount for the turn and giving just the right
amount of rudder, the ball
remains at the bottom of the
glass tube, in alignment with
the bottom of the plane. To
make the turn properly you need to properly turn the
wheel so the wings tilt AND
use the rudder controls to
keep the wings from slipping
sideways through the air. If you apply too much wheel
and tilt the plane too much
or not enough rudder, the
ball will slide within the glass
tube in the direction of the
turn. In that case you need either less wheel or more
rudder. On the other hand if you
apply too little wheel or too
much rudder, the plane will
slip and the ball will go to the
upper side of the indicator,
meaning you are slipping sideways through the air. The easiest way to remember
to correct the problem? STEP
ON THE BALL!! Which ever
way the ball goes, you need
to step on the rudder pedal
on that side until the ball returns to the center of the
indicator. Another even cruder
indicator is to tape a piece of
yarn on the windshield of
the plane. If you make a
proper turn the air will keep
the yarn straight up on the window. Your response to
the yarn is opposite of the
ball, you step on the
opposite side. That is a bit
more confusing so that
should be considered a back up in case your usual
indicator breaks.