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CHAPTER XIV-AIRCRAFT CONTROLS

Note The Cadets should be demonstrated about the aircraft controls and other aircraft parts
on the Microlight itself for better understanding.

1. A conventional wing aircraft flight control system consists of flight control surfaces, the
respectiv e cockpit controls, connecting linkages, and th e necessary operating
mechanisms to control an aircraft's direction in flight. Aircraft engine controls are also considered
as flight controls as they change speed. Generally basic aircraft control can be classified as follows:
(a) Primary controls
(b) Secondary controls

BASIC AIRCRAFT CONTROLS

2. The basic aircraft controls are classified in to following:

(a) Primary Controls. Basically the primary aircraft controls are arranged as
follows:

(i) A control yoke (also known as a control column), centre stick or side-stick
governs the aircraft's roll and pitch by moving the ailerons, when turned or
deflected left and right, and moves the elevators when moved backwards or
forwards
(ii) Rudder pedals, to control yaw, which move the rudder; left foot
forward will move the rudder left for instance.
(iii) Throttle controls to control engine speed or thrust for
powered aircraft.

(b) Secondary Controls. The secondary controls are trim tab, flap (aircraft), Air brake
(aircraft), Spoiler , Leading edge slats, and variable-sweep wing.

(i) Trim Tabs. These are small control surfaces connected to the trailing edge of
a larger control surface of aircraft, used to control the trim of the controls, i.e.
to counteract aerodynamic forces and stabilise the aircraft in a particular desired attitude
without the need for the operator to constantly apply a control force. This is done by
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adjusting the angle of the tab relative to the larger surface. Changing the setting of a
trim tab adjusts the neutral or resting positionof a control surface (such as an
elevator or rudder). As the desired position of a control surface changes
(corresponding mainly to different speeds), an adjustable trim tab will allow the operator
to reduce the manual force required to maintain that position.

(ii) Air brakes and Spoilers. Air

Brakes or speed brakes are a type of flight
control surface used on an aircraft to increase
drag or increase the angle of approach during
landing. Spoilers are designed to increase drag
while making little change to lift. Thus, spoilers
reduce the lift-to-drag ratio and require a higher
angle of attack to maintain lift, resulting in a
higher stall speed. Most gliders are equipped
with spoilers on the wings in order to adjust
their angle of descent during approach to landing.

(iii) Slats. Slats are aerodynamic surfaces

on the leading edge of the wings of fixed- wing
aircraft which, when deployed, allow the wing
to operate at a higher angle of attack. A
higher coefficient of lift is produced as a result
of angle of attack and speed, so by deploying
slats an aircraft can fly at slower speeds, or
take off and land in shorter distances. They are
usually used while landing or performing
maneuvers which take the aircraft close to the
stall, but are usually retracted in normal flight
to minimize drag.

(iv) Variable - Sweep Wing. A variable-

sweep w i n g , also known as"swing wing", is an
aeroplane wing that may be swept back and then
returned to its original position during flight. It
allows the aircraft's plan form to be modified in
flight, and is therefore an example of a variable-
geometry aircraft.
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(v) Flaps. Flaps are hinged surfaces mounted on the trailing edges of the wings
of a fixed- wing aircraft to reduce the speed at which an aircraft can be safely flown
and to increasethe angle of descent for landing. They shorten take-off and landing
distances. Flaps do this by lowering the stall speed and increasing the drag.

FUSELAGE

3. Fuselage is the main body of the aircraft to which all the other components are attached. It also
contains the cockpit from where the pilot controls the aero-plane. It provides the space for the freight
and passengers.

BASIC DESIGN

4. The basic design of fuselage should satisfy the following:-

(a) Smooth skin of the required aerodynamic form.

(b) Sufficient strength to withstand aerodynamic loads, landing loads and handling
loads.
(c) Sufficient stiffness to retain its correct shape under all loads.
(d) Mounting points for engine, armament, fuel tanks and equipment.
(e) Protection of aircrew and passengers from ambient conditions.
(f) Sufficient break down points for easy dismantling for transportation and port- holes
accessible for inspection and servicing.
(g) Design itself should be economical and easy for production and repairs.

5. A basic fuselage layout is shown below for easy understanding. As can be seen, it
comprises fire wall, wing attachment points, landing gear attachment points, stringers, bulk
head/formers and stressed skin.

MATERIALS USED

6. Early aircraft were constructed of wood frames covered in fabric. As monoplanes became popular,
metal frames improved the strength, which eventually led to all-metal aircraft with metal covering all
surfaces. Some modern aircraft are constructed with composite materials for major control surfaces,
wings, or the entire fuselage such as the Boeing 787. On the 787, it makes possible higher
pressurization levels and larger windows for passenger comfort as well as lower weight to reduce
operating costs. Hence the various types of materials can be classified as follows:
(a) Wood
(b) Metals
(c) Composites
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MAIN /TAIL PLANE AEROLONS ELEVATORS & RUDDERS (AA-7)

7. Fuselage is the main body of the aircraft to which all the other components are attached. It also
contains the cockpit from where the pilot controls the aero-plane. It provides the space for the freight
and passengers.

MAIN PLANE

8. As shown in figure above, a wing is a type of fin with a surface that produces lift for flight or
propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid. As such, wings
have an airfoil shape, a streamlined cross- sectional shape producing a useful lift to drag ratio.

9. There are various types of wings as

shown in figure below. They are as follows:

(a) Straight wing

(b) Swept back wing
(c) Delta wing
(d) Tapered wing
(e) Variable geometry wing

AILERONS, ELEVATORS AND RUDDERS

10. The main control surfaces such as Aileron and Elevators of a fixed-wing aircraft are attached
to the airframe on hinges or tracks so that they may move and thereby deflect the air stream passing
over them. This redirection of the air stream generates an unbalanced force to rotate the plane
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about the associated axis. The rudder is a fundamental control surface in order to provide means of
controlling yaw of an airplane about its vertical axis.

AILERONS

11. The figure below shows the position of Aileron and Elevator on an aircraft.

Aileron Elevator

12. Ailerons are mounted on the trailing edge of each wing

near the wingtips and move in opposite directions. When the pilot
moves the stick left, or turns the wheel counter-clockwise, the left
aileron goes up and the right aileron goes down. A raised aileron
reduces lift on that wing and a lowered one increases lift, so
moving the stick left causes the left wing to drop and the right wing
to rise. This causes the aircraft to roll to the left and begin to
turn to the left. Centering
the stick returns the ailerons to neutral maintaining the bank
angle. The aircraft will continue to turn until opposite aileron
motion returns the bank angle to zero to fly straight.

ELEVATORS

13. An elevator is mounted on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer on each side of
the fin in the tail, as shown in the figure above. They move up and down together. When the pilot
pulls the stick backward, the elevators go up. Pushing the stick forward causes the elevators to go
down. Raised elevators push down on the tail and cause the nose to pitch up. This makes the wings
fly at a higher angle of attack, which generates more lift and more drag. Centering the stick returns
the elevators to neutral and stops the change of pitch. Many aircraft use a stabilator — a moveable
horizontal stabilizer — in place of an elevator. Some aircraft, such as an MD-80, use a servo tab
within the elevator surface to aerodynamically move the main surface into position. Thedirection of
travel of the control tab will thus be in a direction opposite to the main control surface. It is for
this reason that an MD-80 tail looks like it has a 'split' elevator system.

RUDDER

14. A typical view of Rudder is shown below.

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15. The rudder is a fundamental control surface, typically controlled bypedals rather than
at the stick. It is the primary means of controlling yaw-the rotation of an airplane about its
vertical axis. The rudder may also be called upon to counter-act the adverse yaw produced by the
roll-control surfaces.

16. On an aircraft, the rudder is a directional control surface. The rudder is usually attached to
the fin (or vertical stabilizer) which allows the pilot to control yaw about the vertical axis, i.e. change
the horizontal direction in which the nose is pointing. The rudder's direction in aircraft has
been manipulated with the movement of a pair of foot pedals by the pilot.

SUMMARY

17. Primary controls and secondary controls are the most essential control systems for all types of
aircraft. Several technology research and development efforts exist to integrate the functions of flight control
systems such as ailerons, elevators, elevens, flaps and flaperons into wings to perform the aerodynamic
purpose with the advantages of less mass, lower cost, reduced drag and inertia (for faster, stronger control
response).