Forces vary with the angle of attack. The angle of attack is the angle between the relative wind and the chord of the wing. The chord of the wing is a straight line running from the leading edge to the trailing edge. Increasing the angle of attack increases the pressure felt under the wing and vice versa.
The angle-of-attack transmitter detects changes in the aircraft’s local angle of attack. It sends these changes, in the form of mechanical motion, to potentiometers within the transmitter. These potentiometers convert the mechanical motion to proportional electrical voltages. These voltages go to associated angle-of-attack indicating and interface equipment.
The transmitter has a detector probe that senses changes in airflow. Changes in airflow cause the probe paddle to rotate. This rotation, in turn, drives the wiper arms of the three internally mounted potentiometers.
The angle-of-attack system shows the pilot aircraft pitch attitude with respect to the surrounding air mass.
