Aircraft display with potential thrust indicator

An aircraft display apparatus combines a flight path vector group with a potential thrust indicator. The display apparatus comprises a display screen and a pitch ladder symbol, a horizontal line and a flight path vector group displayed on the display screen. The flight path vector group comprises a flight path vector symbol, a potential flight path vector symbol, and a potential thrust symbol. The potential thrust symbol further comprises a thrust and drag limit symbol and at least one throttle symbol. The flight path vector group is oriented on the display screen in relation to the pitch ladder and the horizontal line. The position of the potential thrust symbol relative to the pitch ladder, flight path vector symbol and the potential flight path vector symbol represents current engine power and power limits of the aircraft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of embodiments of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the display format of a flight path vector group without the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a display format of the present invent

FIG. 3 illustrates forces that act on an aircraft in flight.

FIGS. 4A-E illustrates displays of the present invention in five different operational situations.

FIG. 5 illustrates a display format of the present invention indicating failure of an engine.

FIG. 6 illustrates a display format of the potential thrust indicator of the present invention with drag device symbology.

FIG. 7 illustrates components of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates the invention embodied in an aircraft.

1. A method for displaying flight data information for an aircraft having engine power and engine limits, said method comprising:

a configuration of said potential thrust indicator relative to said pitch ladder, said flight path vector indicator and said potential flight path vector indicator representing at least one current engine power parameter and at least one desired engine power parameter of said aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, said potential thrust indicator further comprising at least one thrust and drag limit indicator and at least one throttle indicator.

3. The method of claim 2, said aircraft having at least one operating engine, said step of displaying a flight path vector group further comprising displaying at least one throttle indicator, each throttle indicator corresponding to each operating engine.

4. The method of claim 2, said potential thrust indicator further comprising a minimum thrust and drag limit indicator.

5. The method of claim 2, said potential thrust indicator further comprising a maximum thrust and drag limit indicator.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an image corresponding to an axis of flight of said aircraft parallel to a horizon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said image is a horizontal line.

8. The method of claim 6, said displaying a flight path vector group further comprising displaying a flight path vector group relative to said image.

9. The method of claim 1, said display comprising a HUD.

10. The method of claim 1, said display comprising a PFD.

11. The method of claim 1, said display comprising an HDD.

12. The method of claim 1, said display comprising an HMD.

13. The method of claim 1, said display comprising a CRT.

14. The method of claim 1, said display comprising an LCD.

15. A display apparatus for an aircraft comprising:

a configuration of said potential thrust indicator relative to said pitch ladder indicator, said flight path vector indicator and said potential flight path vector indicator representing at least one current engine power parameter and at least one desired engine power parameter of said aircraft.

16. The display apparatus according to claim 15, said flight path vector group being oriented on said display in relation to said pitch ladder indicator and said horizontal image.

17. The display apparatus according to claim 15 said potential thrust indicator further comprising at least one thrust and drag limit indicator and at least one throttle indicator.

18. The display apparatus according to claim 17, said aircraft having at least one engine and each throttle indicator corresponding to each engine.

19. The display apparatus according to claim 15, said potential thrust indicator further comprising symbology representing current engine power and engine power limits of said aircraft with at least one drag device activated.

20. The display apparatus according to claim 19, said drag device comprising a speed brake.

21. The display apparatus according to claim 19, said drag device further comprising at least one wing flap position.

22. The display apparatus according to claim 19, said drag device further comprising landing gear.

23. A display apparatus according to claim 15, said display comprising a HUD.

24. A display apparatus according to claim 15, said display comprising a PFD.

25. A display apparatus according to claim 15, said display comprising an HDD.

26. A display apparatus according to claim 15, said display comprising an HMD.

27. A display apparatus according to claim 15, said display comprising a CRT.

28. A display apparatus according to claim 15, said display comprising an LCD.

29. A system for displaying engine power of an aircraft having a flight data controller, a display apparatus, and a display controller for transmitting flight data from said flight data controller to said display apparatus, said system comprising:

30. A system according to claim 29, said potential thrust indicator further comprising a thrust and drag limit indicator and at least one throttle indicator.

31. A system according to claim 30, said aircraft having at least one engine, each throttle indicator corresponding to each engine.

32. A system according to claim 29, said potential thrust indicator further comprising symbology representing engine power and engine power limits of said aircraft with a least one drag device activated.

33. A system according to claim 32, said drag device further comprising a speed brake.

34. A system according to claim 32, said drag device further comprising at least one wing flap position.

35. A system according to claim 32, said drag device further comprising landing gear.

36. A system according to claim 29, said display apparatus comprising a HUD.

37. A system according to claim 29, said display apparatus comprising a PFD.

38. A system according to claim 29, said display apparatus comprising an HDD.

39. A system according to claim 29, said display apparatus comprising an HMD.

40. A system according to claim 29, said display apparatus comprising a CRT.

41. A system according to claim 29, said display apparatus comprising an LCD.

42. A method for transmitting viewable flight data information on an aircraft display comprising the following steps:

a configuration of said potential thrust indicator relative to said pitch ladder, said flight path vector indicator and said potential flight path vector indicator representing current engine power parameters and desired engine power parameters of said aircraft.

43. The method of claim 42, said presenting flight indicator information further comprising presenting said flight indicator information on said display, said flight path vector group being oriented on said display in relation to said pitch ladder and said line.

44. The method of claim 42, said presenting said flight indicator information further comprising presenting said flight indicator information on said display, said potential thrust indicator further comprising a thrust and a drag limit indicator and at least one throttle indicator.

45. The method of claim 42, said aircraft display comprising a HUD.

46. The method of claim 42, said aircraft display comprising a PFD.

47. The method of claim 42, said aircraft display comprising an HDD.

48. The method of claim 42, said aircraft display comprising an HMD.

49. The method of claim 42, said aircraft display comprising a CRT.

50. The method of claim 42, said aircraft display comprising an LCD.

51. A product made in accordance with the method of claim 1.

52. A product made in accordance with the method of claim 42.