Aircraft Systems - 02 - Flight Controls

Summary

This script delves into the intricacies of aircraft flight controls, distinguishing between primary and secondary systems. It explains how ailerons, elevators, and rudders—the primary controls—manipulate aerodynamics for roll, pitch, and yaw, respectively. Secondary controls like flaps and trim enhance performance and reduce pilot workload, with flaps boosting lift during takeoff and landing, and trim facilitating stable, hands-off flight. The overview underscores the necessity of these controls for achieving desired aircraft performance.

Takeaways

• 🛫 The flight controls are essential for manipulating aerodynamic forces to control an aircraft.
• 🔄 Flight controls are divided into primary and secondary systems, with the primary ones being the main tools for pilot control.
• ✈️ The three primary flight controls are the ailerons, elevator, and rudder, each responsible for roll, pitch, and yaw respectively.
• 🚁 Pilots control ailerons and elevators with a yoke or stick, and the rudder with rudder pedals, which are connected to the controls via cables or push rods.
• 🔄 Ailerons on the wingtips allow the aircraft to roll or bank by creating differential aerodynamic forces.
• 📈 The elevator, attached to the horizontal stabilizer, controls the pitch, enabling the aircraft to climb or descend.
• 🚦 The rudder, controlled by pedals, is attached to the vertical stabilizer and is used for yawing the aircraft.
• 📉 Secondary flight controls like flaps and trim improve aircraft performance and reduce pilot workload.
• 🛬 Flaps, located on the wing's backside, increase lift during takeoff and landing, allowing for slower airspeeds and steeper approaches.
• ⚖️ Trim is used to stabilize the aircraft and reduce the need for constant control input from the pilot, facilitating easier flight management.
• 🔧 The trim system includes adjustable tabs on both the elevator and rudder to help maintain specific flight attitudes and reduce pilot fatigue.

Q & A

What are the two main systems of flight controls on an aircraft?

The two main systems of flight controls on an aircraft are the primary and secondary flight controls.

What are the three primary flight controls used by the pilot to control the airplane?

The three primary flight controls are the ailerons, elevator, and rudder.

How do ailerons affect the aircraft's movement?

Ailerons, located on the back end of the wings, control the aircraft's roll or bank by creating differential aerodynamic forces when deflected up or down.

What is the function of the elevator in controlling the airplane?

The elevator, attached to the back of the horizontal stabilizer, controls the airplane's pitch, allowing it to climb or descend.

How does the rudder control the yaw of the airplane?

The rudder, controlled by rudder pedals and attached to the back end of the vertical stabilizer, applies a force when deflected, causing the airplane to yaw.

What is the purpose of the secondary flight controls in an aircraft?

Secondary flight controls, such as flaps and trim, are used to improve the performance of the airplane and to reduce the pilot's workload.

What is the primary function of flaps on an aircraft?

Flaps, located on the backside of the wing, are primarily used to increase lift during takeoff and landing, allowing the airplane to fly at slower airspeeds.

How does the trim help the pilot in controlling the aircraft?

Trim helps to relieve control pressure and prevent pilot fatigue by allowing the airplane to maintain a specific airspeed or attitude with fewer control inputs from the pilot.

What is the difference between the elevator trim and the rudder's ground adjustable trim tab?

The elevator trim is controlled by the pilot through a wheel in the cockpit and can be adjusted in flight, while the rudder's ground adjustable trim tab can only be adjusted on the ground and helps with the left-turning tendencies during climb.

How does the pilot manipulate the flight controls to achieve the desired performance of the airplane?

The pilot moves the controls in the cockpit, which through cables and linkages, physically move the flight control surfaces, deflecting the airflow and creating forces that result in the airplane rolling, pitching, or yawing.

What is the next topic the script suggests investigating after discussing flight controls?

The script suggests investigating the powerplant of the airplane after discussing the flight controls.