Jim Logajan wrote:
I'd post a link to a picture of what it would look like
(pretty simple concept) but can't see to find one!

Okay, found some, like this one:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...ndicator_1.jpg

And a simple mechanical kit (looks like no longer available):
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...baconsaver.php

My suspicion is that designers get fancy and use things like two non-
parallel pitots and use some mechanism to compute the AoA from their
differential pressures, which is then presented in some fancy digital
display. The irony is that AoA is easy to show, and if one is flying a
glider or pusher, a simple mechanical device could probably be mounted so
it is visible out front (i.e. "heads up") so that one can see the AoA at
the same time one is controlling their approach. But I suppose it'd be too
distracting during crusing flight and mess up the "look" of the airplane.


Just think of the yaw string on gliders (e.g. the red string in this
pictu
http://www.highonadventure.com/Hoa08...eYawString.jpg) but
used to show vertical component of the relative wind, not horizontal.

Use variable capacitance, variable reluctance, resistor strip or
synchro connected to a vane. For a real giggle do as some Air Force
systems and employ a slotted, rotating cone for a probe. It involves
a feedback loop.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired