On February 3, 1959, a Beech Bonanza departed Mason City, Iowa carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson. Minutes after takeoff the pilot, Roger Peterson, entered complete darkness — no horizon, no ground lights, light snow and gusting winds. He was 21 years old, not instrument rated, and about to rely on an instrument he didn't fully understand.

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The Sperry F3 gyro installed in that aircraft displays pitch in reverse of the conventional instruments Peterson had trained on. In turbulence, in the dark, his instincts worked against him. A gradual right bank developed. His inner ear said level. The spiral tightened until the right wingtip struck a snow-covered field at 165 mph. The F3 was recovered frozen at 90° right bank, nose down.

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The trainer below puts you in that seat. First with a quiz on how you interpret this instrument. Then learn how the F3 works in daylight, then black out the window and fly on instruments alone — just like Peterson did. See if you can read it correctly under pressure.

*click on the trainer to enable the arrow keys and move the gyro*