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8.flight Controls

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8 views3 pages

8.flight Controls

Uploaded by

thebackdoorhq
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Flight controls.

Ailerons.
Ailerons are control surfaces located near the trailing edge of each wingtip and are responsible
for controlling the airplane’s roll or bank.

​ They work in opposite directions: when one aileron moves up, the other moves
down. This motion is controlled by rotating the control wheel or moving the
control stick.

Three primary systems are used to operate the ailerons are:


​ Cables and pulleys.
​ Push and pull rods.
​ Torque tubes.

In airplanes with wheel controls, cables and pulleys are most common, while push and pull rods
may be used in some cases.

​ Larger aircraft often employ hydraulic systems in conjunction with cables and
pulleys.
​
​ Modern transport airplanes utilize fly-by-wire technology, where electronic signals
from cockpit computers control the ailerons, elevators, and rudder.

When the control wheel is rotated right, the left aileron moves down, increasing lift on the left
wing, while the right aileron moves up, reducing lift on the right wing.

This causes the airplane to roll to the right. Similarly, rotating the control wheel to the left rolls
the airplane left.

Elevators and stabilators.


The elevators or stabilators control the airplane’s pitch, which affects the angle of attack of the
wings. They are located on the horizontal tail surface and are connected to the control column
by:
​ Cables and pulleys.
​ Rocking beam and cable systems.
​ Push and pull rods.
Elevators are hinged to the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer and move up or down
together. When the pilot pushes the control wheel forward, the elevators move down, increasing
tail lift and causing the airplane's nose to pitch downward.

​ Pulling the control wheel back moves the elevators up, decreasing tail lift, and
causing the airplane’s nose to rise.

A stabilator is a one-piece, movable horizontal tail surface that pivots up or down. Like the
elevators, it controls pitch by changing its angle of attack as the control wheel is pushed or
pulled.

Rudder.
The rudder controls the airplane's yaw, or movement about its vertical axis, allowing the airplane
to turn left or right. It is attached to the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer and is connected to
the rudder pedals by cables.

Pushing the left rudder pedal deflects the rudder left, causing the airplane's nose to turn left.
Likewise, pushing the right pedal moves the nose to the right. The rudder is used in conjunction
with the ailerons for coordinated turns.

Trim systems.
Trim systems are designed to reduce the need for constant pressure on the flight controls during
different phases of flight. These systems help maintain the airplane's attitude without requiring
continuous input from the pilot.

​ Trim tabs are small adjustable surfaces attached to the trailing edges of control
surfaces such as elevators, rudders, or ailerons.

They are controlled from the cockpit and allow the pilot to maintain a desired flight attitude
without applying continuous pressure on the controls. When a trim tab is deflected, it creates an
aerodynamic force that helps hold the control surface in position.

For example, if the trim tab is deflected downward, it helps hold the elevator up, maintaining a
nose-up attitude.

​ Bungees. Some aircraft use bungee systems, which consist of adjustable spring
tension mechanisms that apply pressure on the control surfaces to maintain a
trimmed position.
​
​ Ground adjustable tabs. Some small airplanes feature ground-adjustable trim
tabs on the rudder or ailerons. These tabs are adjusted manually before a flight
and help correct slight rolling or yawing tendencies.
​ Anti-servo tabs. Found on stabilators, anti-servo tabs act as both trimming
devices and control stiffeners, preventing over-controlling in pitch.
​
​ Servo tabs. Commonly used on larger airplanes, servo tabs help move large
control surfaces with minimal pilot effort. The servo tab is linked directly to the
control column.
​
​ When the pilot moves the control column, the servo tab moves in the opposite
direction, assisting in deflecting the main control surface.
​
​ Adjustable stabilizers. Some airplanes have adjustable stabilizers, which allow
the pilot to change the stabilizer’s angle of attack using a crank or wheel in the
cockpit. This system reduces drag and provides finer pitch control compared to
trim tabs.
​
​ Movable tail. On some aircraft, the entire tail section is hinged to pivot forward or
aft, adjusting the airplane’s pitch.
​
​ Pivoting the tail aft results in a nose-down attitude while pivoting the tail forward
produces a nose-up attitude.

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