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ALTIMETER
The Altimeter measures the altitude or height of the aircraft above sea level Remember, ground elevation varies widely. So the Altimeter reading does not measure height above the ground. But instead above level. The pilot must be aware of the ground elevation. To then calculate the height of the aircraft above the ground.
Similar to a clock. An altimeter has three hands. The fastest moving hand reads in Hundreds of feet. The shorter hand reads in Thousands of feet. The longest hand. Which moves the slowest reads in Tens of thousands of feet (On some altimeter. The tens of thousands of feet is represented with the shortest hand. Instead of the longest hand
The altimeter pictured here has a reading of 1,410 feet above sea level. The fastest moving hand (hundreds) is between the 4 and 5 and small hash marks represent 20 feet each. Therefore this hand has a reading of 410 feet. The shortest hand (thousands) is between 1 and 2 therefore. The current altitude would be 1,410.
The altimeter is reading is based on barometric pressure. And barometric is constantly changing. This requires the altimeter to be set prior to every flight. And during flight as barometric pressure in your flying area changes.
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Altimeter