Flight Control (redone) Flashcards
Mechanical flight control system
Sport & small general aviation aircraft
Modern aircraft are controlled via
Electrical interface:
- Electric Motors
- Digital Computers
- Fiber Optic Cables (Fly-by-Wire systems)
Name the two types of flight control systems
Primary: Ailerons, Elevator, Rudder
Secondary: Wing Flaps, spoilers, trim systems
What does the Primary control system control?
Airflow around the airfoil thus moving the aircraft around its 3 axis of rotation
Ailerons control what axis
Longitudinal axis (roll)
What is adverse yaw
When the plane rolls to the left or right
To roll right, which aileron will do what?
Right aileron moves up, left aileron moves down
What does adverse yaw cause during a left roll?
Left aileron moves up, right aileron moves down producing drag causing the plane to yaw right.
What is adverse yaw and how do you counteract it?
When the plane yaws towards the outside of a bank (towards the lowered aileron). Use rudder pressure.
When is the effect of adverse yaw magnified?
At slower speeds because of the decreased effectiveness of the vertical stabilizer & rudder.
What 4 systems are used to counteract adverse yaw?
- Coupled ailerons and rudder
- Differential ailerons (aileron that deflects downward doesn’t deflect as much as the aileron that deflects up) to balance drag
- Frise Type Ailerons - they move on an offset pivot and have slots
- Flaperons - combine aspects of ailerons & flaps
What does the elevator control?
Pitch about the lateral axis
This is a characteristic of a T-tail plane
Remove horizontal stabilizer from exhaust blast and prop wash. Pilot must make larger movements at slow speeds to control pitch of nose.
What is a stabilator?
Entire horizontal stabilator moves up and down.
Describe a Canard design airplane?
Horizontal stabilizer is on the front of the plane before the main wings. Results in less drag for lift
What axis does a rudder control?
Vertical axis (yaw)
Left pedal will cause rudder to deflect in which direction?
Left
What are ruddervators?
Combination rudder and elevator. They work much like flaperons
Name secondary flight controls
- Wing flaps
- Leading Edge Devices
- Spoilers
- Trim Systems
Flaps are the most common what
High lift devices
Flaps increase what
lift and drag
Name 4 types of flaps
Plain, split, slotted, fowler flap
Describe plain flap
Most simple design. Increases camber of wing to increase lift and drag.
Describe split flap
Deploy from lower surface of wing and increase lift more than plain flap. Both the plain and split flap design cause high drag for little lift
