Principles of Flight Chapter 3 – Stability and Control

Principles of Flight

Chapter 3 – Stability and Control

Stability

An Aircraft must be stable in flight in order to perform well

Also we must be able to control the aircrafts movement.

Yaw

Aircraft turns left or right

Controlling - Yaw

Using the rudder pedals the pilot moves the rudder left or right to change the aircrafts direction.

Pitch

Aircrafts noses Up or Down

Controlling - Pitch

Moving the stick forwards/back lifts or lowers the aircrafts nose by generating more or less lift at the tail

It uses Elevators to do this

Roll

Aircraft “twists”

Controlling - Roll

Moving the stick left/right rolls the aircraft by generating more lift on one side.

It does this by moving flaps known as Ailerons

Trimming

When an aircraft pitches involuntarily it needs to be trimmed.

Small flaps mounted on the Elevators called “Trimming tabs” jut out from the elevators to increase the camber.

Aileron and Rudder trimming is the same

Flaps

Flaps increase wing camber and/or area

Flaps

Flaps allow aircraft to fly safely at slow speeds

They are mounted on the inside of the wings and can hinge down to increase lift at slow speeds

Slats

Like flaps at the front of the wingThey slide out of the leading edge and

are used at low speedPositioned on leading edge of the wing