II.E - Airplane Flight Controls Flashcards
Describe the system of control for the flight controls on your plane.
The control surfaces are manually operated through cables and mechanical linkages.
Describe differential ailerons.
One aileron is RAISED a greater distance than the other one is lowered.
This increases drags on the descending wing and reduces adverse yaw, but not entirely.
Describe Frise-type ailerons
Raised aileron pivots on an offset hinge.
This projects the leading edge of the aileron into the airflow and creates drag.
It helps equalize the drag created by the lowered aileron on the opposite wing and reduces adverse yaw
Explain the procedure for dealing with a split or asymmetric flap situation?
Plane will roll towards the flap generating the least amount of lift.
So you want to use opposite aileron and counter the yaw with opposite rudder.
You should also fly a faster than normal approach, to avoid losing control effectiveness
Describe a t-tail
An elevator that is above most of the effects of the propeller and other parts of the airframe.
Has less noise and vibration, and must be moved a greater distance to raise the nose (especially at slow speeds) compared to other aircraft.
Flutter is a problem, so the vertical stabilizer is usually designed stiffer, usually resulting in a heavier tail.
T-tail aircraft may also be more susceptible to a deep stall.
What is an elevator down spring?
Commonly found on t-tail elevators.
During flight at high AOA and low airspeed and aft cg, the elevator down spring assists in lowering the nose of the aircraft to prevent a stall caused by the aft cg position.
What is a V-tail?
Has fixed surfaces that act as both horizontal and vertical surfaces.
The movable surfaces are called ruddervators.
The plane still operates normally, a control mixing mechanism moves each surface the appropriate amount.
The V-tail is more susceptible to Dutch roll tendencies
What are fixed slots?
They direct airflow to the upper wing surface and delay airflow separation at higher angles of attack.
Allows a higher maximum CL because the stall is delayed until the wing reaches a greater AOA.
What are movable slats?
They consist of leading edge segments that move on tracks.
The slats move out at higher AOA, some automatically some manually.
Opening a slat allows air below the wing to flow over the wing’s upper surface, delaying airflow separation.
What are leading edge flaps?
Used to increase CL-max and the camber of the wings.
Increase lift more than drag.
As normal flaps are extended, drag increases at a greater rate than lift.
What are leading edge cuffs?
Fixed aerodynamic devices that are also used to increase CL-max and the camber of the wings.
The leading edge is extended down forward, allowing the the airflow to attach to the upper surface of the wing during higher AOA, thus lowering the aircraft’s stalling speed
