Flight Controls

Question 1

What is a stabilitor?

Answer 1

The entire horizontal stabilizer moves instead of just the elevator. Commonly found on Pipers

Question 2

What are the coresponding letters for the longitudinal and lateral axis?

Answer 2

Longitudinal - x axis
Lateral - Y axis

Question 3

Why do we need coordinating rudder in a turn?

Answer 3

Because of aileron drag. In a turn, the upgoing wing’s aileron is deflected downward, creating more lift but also more drag. So the wing gets shoved back, yawing the nose in the opposite direction of the turn

Question 4

What are Frise Ailerons?

Answer 4

Type of aileron that helps reduce aileron drag.

The hinge of the upgoing aileron hangs down into the airflow going under the wing, intentionally creating a bit of drag to offset the upgoing wing’s aileron drag

Question 5

What is dynamic balance used for?

Answer 5

Used to assist in moving the controls and making it feel easier.

So for example when the elevator pivots down, the tab are the edge pops up into the airstream, helping push and then keep it there

Question 6

What is a mass balance?

Answer 6

Used to counteract flutter on fast-moving AC. Done by placing a weight ahead of the hinge of a control surface

Question 7

What is a balance tab?

Answer 7

A tab that automatically moves in the opposite direction of the control surface its on to help hold it in that new position