Aircraft Control Surfaces Overview

A primary flight control surface that increases wing camber and angle of attack, increasing lift and induced drag, enabling steeper landings without increasing airspeed.

The rudder is the primary control surface that controls movement around the vertical axis of the aircraft, known as yaw. Yaw is the motion of an airplane's nose left or right.

The primary flight controls are the ailerons, elevator (or stabilator), and rudder. Flaps are considered secondary flight control surfaces.

Primary flight control surfaces become more effective as speed increases due to greater airflow over them.

The four forces acting on an airplane in flight are lift, weight, thrust, and drag. These forces must be balanced for stable flight.

When an airplane is in unaccelerated, level flight, the four forces acting on it (lift, weight, thrust, and drag) are in equilibrium.

The angle of attack is the angle between the chord line of the wing and the relative wind. The relative wind is the direction of the airflow relative to the wing.

A given airplane wing will stall at the same angle of attack regardless of airspeed, weight, load factor, or density altitude. It's the critical angle at which airflow separates from the upper surface of the wing.

The horizontal component of lift is the force that makes an airplane turn. The lift force is directed slightly inward towards the center of the turn due to banking.

An inherently stable airplane will naturally return to its original flight attitude if disturbed by a force like turbulence, requiring less effort to control. Stability is a desirable characteristic in aircraft.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the magnetic compass will normally indicate a turn towards the north if an airplane is accelerated while on an east or west heading. This is due to compass turning error.

The magnetic compass is only accurate during straight-and-level, unaccelerated flight. During turns or changes in speed, the compass card will dip and show inaccurate readings.

The pitot tube supplies impact pressure to the airspeed indicator. If the pitot tube becomes clogged, the airspeed indicator will become inoperative.

The static vents provide static pressure to the airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator. If the static vents become clogged, all three instruments will become inoperative.

The red line on an airspeed indicator represents the never-exceed speed (VNE). This is the maximum speed at which the airplane can be operated in smooth air.

Density altitude is the pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. It's a measurement of air density, which affects aircraft performance.

Pressure altitude is the height above the standard datum plane of 29.92 inches of mercury (Hg). It's the altitude shown when the altimeter is set to 29.92.

Pressure altitude and density altitude are the same value when the temperature is standard. Standard temperature is 15 degrees Celsius or 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

To cool an overheating engine during a climb, reduce the rate of climb and increase airspeed. This increases airflow over the engine, enhancing cooling.

Using a lower grade of fuel than specified for the engine can cause detonation. Detonation is an uncontrolled explosion of the fuel-air mixture, damaging the engine.

If the recommended octane fuel is unavailable, the next higher octane aviation gas should be used. Never use a lower octane than specified.

Filling fuel tanks after the last flight helps to prevent moisture condensation. The condensation can lead to fuel contamination and engine problems.

Ailerons are the primary flight controls that control the roll of the aircraft, allowing it to bank left or right. They are located on the trailing edge of the wings.

Spoilers are secondary flight control surfaces that increase drag to help slow down and descend the airplane without gaining extra speed. They are often found on gliders or high-speed aircraft.

Stabilators, also known as elevators, are the primary flight control surfaces that control the pitch of the aircraft, allowing it to climb or descend. They are located on the tail of the airplane.

Trim systems are secondary flight control surfaces that help to balance the forces acting on the aircraft, reducing the pilot's workload. They are typically adjustable tabs on the control surfaces.

Overbanking tendency refers to the outside wing traveling faster than the inside wing in a turn, generating more lift and potentially causing the airplane to roll further into the turn unless counteracted by aileron pressure.

Gravity acting on the mass of the airplane creates weight, a force that acts downward and is opposed by lift. Weight is a fundamental force in flight.

Thrust is the force that propels the airplane forward and is generated by the engine and propeller. It is opposed by drag.

Drag is the resistance to the airplane's motion through the air. It is caused by various factors like friction, shape, and lift. Drag opposes thrust.