iPhone Artificial Horizon - Camera

[211º]

Yesterday afternoon/evening I flew westbound into a setting sun full of haze. Each airport I passed said "10 miles visibility," but surely that was at ground level.  At altitude, forward visibility was a few miles or so. Off either wing, I might have been able to agree to 8 or so miles.

At one point, I wanted to take a picture to verify with flying friends about the horrendous visibility, but when I put my camera up to take a picture, that previously indistinct horizon refined itself into an obvious horizon line of earth versus sky.

That got me thinking, in this type of situation where it is IFR (but only because of haze) it seems like using an iPhone camera pointed out front might just give enough information for a safe resolution should the pilot's artificial horizon go off-line.

*this photo is soooo much better than what I saw out the front - I was floored.

 

[Fly Boomer]

3 minutes ago, 211º said:

*this photo is soooo much better than what I saw out the front - I was floored.

Your eyeball is, in most respects, way more sophisticated but, in this case, the relatively simpler iPhone might save your life.  Neat observation!

[A64Pilot]

An electronic sun stone?

[Mooney Dog]

On 5/10/2022 at 5:38 PM, 211º said:

iPhone camera pointed out front might just give enough information for a safe resolution should the pilot's artificial horizon go off-line.

I wouldnt want to trust i could hold an iphone up to the glass and it would show me anything i want.