Primary Controls Flashcards
Elevator axis + movement
Lateral Axis
Pitch
Aileron axis and movement
Longitudinal axis
Roll movement
Rudder axis and movement
Yaw around normal axis
Essentials req for flight control systems
Forces need to be balanced
Feel system (airspeed increasing etc)
Response
Movement and harmony with other axis controls
Aerodynamic Balance - Inset Hinge
Reduce the distance of the moment arm
Only a small inset to around 25% otherwise behind CP can cause full selection with smaller inputs
Aerodynamic Balance - Horn Balance
Extends forward of the hinge and causes drag
Usually found on elevators and rudders
Aerodynamic Balance - Internal Balance
Flexible sealed diaphragm using static pressure to provide opposing hinge moment
Aerodynamic Balance - Balance Tab
Small control surface tab on TE that deflects in opposite direction to control surface
Reduces control effectiveness
Aerodynamic Balances - Anti Balance Tab
Tab deflects in same direction as control surface
Opposes the movement of control surface making the controls heavier.
Reduce possibility of over stressing aeroplane + light control feel at low speeds
Aerodynamic Balance - Servo Tab
Pilot moves the control tab which moves the control surface via force generation
Very ineffective at slow speed due to low forces over AC
Aerodynamic Balance - Spring Tab
Better version of servo tab
Prevent operation of servo tab at low speed and control directly.
High speeds spring compresses and pilot moves tab
Why do we need mass balancing
To prevent flutter
How do we avoid flutter
Adding mass ahead of hinge line to move CG forward of hinge line
Stay within flight envelope (reduce speed)
Power assisted controls
Provide additional force to operate control surfaces
Still feedback from controls
Full powered controls
Provide all power to remove control surfaces force
Via hydraulic forces
No direct connection between pilot and control surfaces
No aerodynamic feel don’t require aerodynamic balanced control surfaces
Artificial feel system is…
Controls provide no natural sense of forces acting on plane therefore Q feel system added (generates force in proportions to dynamic pressure)
Aileron controls - Up going wing
Deflected aileron downwards
AOA reduces on up going wing
Aileron - down going wing
Aileron is deflected upwards
AOA increases on down going wing
Ideal tailplane fin
Swept back and low aspect ratio
Larger stalling AOA
Elevator controls pitch down
Elevator deflected down
Tailplane will pitch upwards
Nose pitches down
“Pitch down the elevator must go down”
Elevator control pitch up
Elevator deflected upwards
Downwards reaction on tailplane
Nose pitches up
“Pitch up the elevator must go up”
Stabilator
All moving tailplane no elevator
Angle of attack changes of elevator
Pitch down the stabilator moves up to create total reaction upwards
To move nose down
Pitch up the stabilator moves down to create downward reaction
To move nose up