Advantages and disadvantages of basic T flight instrument?

Question

Advantages and disadvantages of basic T flight instrument?

Answer 1

major disadvantage is the scan you have to do, which, in IFR conditions, can get really boring, and cause you to lose focus; the glass cockpit variant puts everything right in front of you, so its a bit easier.

Advantages - if you lose electricity, the analog gauges will still work, since they are independent of a power source. This is why all GC aircraft still have analog backups.

Answer 2

All manufactors now us the T design and the FAA would probably not be excited to certify a new aircraft design for IFR that did not use the T. The advantage of the T design is that I can (and have) jumped into different aircraft and launched into the soup without problems. In older aircraft (especially old Bonanza and Mooneys) that did not use the T you have to really study where everything is so you're not searching for an instrument while flying. Its just good to know that the basic "keep it right side up" instruments are always in the same place.

Of course today more of our new planes use PFD, which are all integrated so they don't require the T design. I've flown the Garmin G1000 and the Avadyne and they're very nice.