An aircraft instrument that uses a spinning gyroscope to indicate the airplane's pitch and bank angles relative to the horizon, even when visibility is poor.
Compound of 'gyro-' (spinning rotor) and 'horizon.' This critical aviation instrument was developed in the early 20th century for instrument flying.
Gyrohorizons are why pilots can fly safely through clouds and fog—the spinning rotor remembers which way is up even when the pilot's inner ear gets completely confused!
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