noun
- instruments that measure the rate of change of a variable, especially altitude in aircraft
Usage: aviation; technical
Examples
- The pilot checked the variometer to monitor the aircraft’s rate of climb.
- Glider pilots rely heavily on variometers to find thermals.
- Modern variometers provide both visual and audio feedback.
- The variometer indicated a descent rate of 500 feet per minute.
- Electronic variometers have largely replaced mechanical ones in modern aircraft.
- The sensitive variometer detected even small changes in altitude.