Airplane Elevators, Ailerons, Rudder

Written by Jack on May 31st, 2008
Objective: To familiarize the student with the operation of the primary control systems on an airplane so that he may better the effects of control movements.
Content:
  • Vertical Axis/Directional Stability
    • Rudder controls yaw
    • Prop slipstream increases effectivness
    • V-Tail Design (Ruddervators)
    • Susceptible to dutch roll
    • Drag reduction minimal
  • Longitudinal Axis/Lateral Stability
    • Ailerons control roll
    • Adverse yaw
    • Differential Ailerons reduce adverse yaw
    • Frise-type ailerons
      • Reduce adverse yaw
      • More effective at high angles of attack due to slot
      • Can be designed to function differentially
    • Coupled ailerons and rudder
  • Lateral Axis/Longitudinal Stability
    • Elevator
    • Stabilator/Stabilizer
      • Anit-servo tab
    • Canard
      • Canard configuration
      • The Good
        • More efficient
        • Stall resistant (important!!)
      • The Bad
        • Stall resistant limitations may prevent main wing from reaching AOA of max lift (lost performance)
        • Flaps adjust lift on main wing but not on canard
      • Increased Efficiency with size and separation
    • All of above control pitch
    • Normal downward force
    • T-Tail
      • Flutter
    • Elevator down spring

See PHAN C. 4

Completion Standards: The lesson is complete when the instructor determines the student has proper knowledge of the elevator, ailerons, and rudder by giving an oral or written exam.
 

2 Comments so far ↓

  1. WOW says:

    Very handy information

  2. dAmon says:

    Thanks for all the really useful information. Really helpful for my science airplane project :) :):):)

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