Flight control surfaces like ailerons, elevators, and rudders control the aircraft's movement around its three axes. Primary control surfaces provide the main aerodynamic forces for controlling the aircraft in flight. Secondary controls like flaps and slats augment lift during takeoff and landing. Trim tabs help balance aircraft forces without pilot effort. As aircraft grew larger, power-assisted hydraulic systems were needed to control surfaces, with mechanical linkages still connecting pilots to hydraulic valves.
Flight control surfaces like ailerons, elevators, and rudders control the aircraft's movement around its three axes. Primary control surfaces provide the main aerodynamic forces for controlling the aircraft in flight. Secondary controls like flaps and slats augment lift during takeoff and landing. Trim tabs help balance aircraft forces without pilot effort. As aircraft grew larger, power-assisted hydraulic systems were needed to control surfaces, with mechanical linkages still connecting pilots to hydraulic valves.
Original Description:
general description various flight control mechanisms
Flight control surfaces like ailerons, elevators, and rudders control the aircraft's movement around its three axes. Primary control surfaces provide the main aerodynamic forces for controlling the aircraft in flight. Secondary controls like flaps and slats augment lift during takeoff and landing. Trim tabs help balance aircraft forces without pilot effort. As aircraft grew larger, power-assisted hydraulic systems were needed to control surfaces, with mechanical linkages still connecting pilots to hydraulic valves.
Flight control surfaces like ailerons, elevators, and rudders control the aircraft's movement around its three axes. Primary control surfaces provide the main aerodynamic forces for controlling the aircraft in flight. Secondary controls like flaps and slats augment lift during takeoff and landing. Trim tabs help balance aircraft forces without pilot effort. As aircraft grew larger, power-assisted hydraulic systems were needed to control surfaces, with mechanical linkages still connecting pilots to hydraulic valves.
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FLIGHT CONTROL
SURFACES INTRODUCTION
• Flight control surfaces are responsible for
directional control. • Directional control is achieved about three axes, i.e. lateral, longitudinal and vertical. • The control devices are hinged or movable surfaces. • Control surfaces controls the attitude of an aircraft during take-off, flight and landing. INTRODUCTION
Flight control surfaces are divided into two major
groups:
Primary or main flight control surfaces
Secondary or auxiliary control surfaces
PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROLS • The primary flight controls provide the aerodynamic force necessary to make the aircraft follow a desired flight path. • These surfaces are used for controlling the aircraft about its three axes. • It includes: Ailerons Elevator Rudder PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROLS PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROLS PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROLS • Ailerons & Elevators are operated from flight deck by means of a control stick. • Rudder is also operated from flight deck with the help of rudder pedals. • Longitudinal control is climb and dive movement that is controlled by the elevator • Lateral control is the banking movement controlled by ailerons. • Directional control about vertical axis or yaw of an aircraft is controlled by the rudder. SECONDARY FLIGHT CONTROLS • A series of secondary flight controls are employed to augment the flight performance during take-off and landing. • Secondary flight controls includes: Spoilers Speed brakes Slats Flaps SECONDARY FLIGHT CONTROLS TRIM CONTROLS • Trim systems assist the crew in controlling the aircraft. • It may also be used to control aircraft during emergencies. • It includes: Trim tabs Servo tabs Balance tabs Spring tabs SECONDARY FLIGHT CONTROLS TRIM CONTROLS Trim Tab: These are small airfoils recessed into the trailing edges of the primary control surfaces Their purpose is to trim out any unbalanced condition that may exist during flight without exerting any pressure on the PFC. SECONDARY FLIGHT CONTROLS TRIM CONTROLS Servo Tab: Also referred as flight tabs, are used primarily on the large PCS. They aid in moving PCS and holding it in desired position. SECONDARY FLIGHT CONTROLS TRIM CONTROLS Balance Tab: These are designed to move in opposite direction of the PCS. In this way aerodynamic forces acting on the tab assist in moving the PCS SECONDARY FLIGHT CONTROLS TRIM CONTROLS Spring Tab: These are similar in appearance to trim tabs. They are used for the same purpose as hydraulic actuators i.e. to aid in moving the PCS. HIGH LIFT DEVICES • It includes flaps and slats. • They may be used independently or in combination to improve the performance of the aircraft. • Flaps increase the wing surface area. • These airfoils are retractable and fair into the wing contour. • Slats also increase the surface area as well as creates a slot. HIGH LIFT DEVICES CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION The various types of flight control systems are as follows: Mechanical control system Hydro-mechanical control system Electrical control system Pneumatic control system Fly By Wire control Fly By Optics control Fly By Wireless control CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION MECHANICAL CONTROL • This is the basic type of system that was used to control early aircraft. • The controls are mechanical and manually operated by the pilot. • It is currently used in smaller aircraft where aerodynamic forces acting on the controls are not excessive. CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION The mechanical control system includes: Cables Push-Pull tubes Bell cranks Levers Jackscrew Cable drums Torque tubes CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION Control Cables: • Control cables used in aviation are typically 7 × 7 and 7 × 19 flexible steel wires. • These cables are strong in tension but does not have enough strength when in compression. • Control cables may run the entire length from pilot’s control mechanism to the control surface. • Other cables may run from the pilot’s control mechanism to hydraulic valves or actuators. CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION Control Cables: • Pulleys are used to for change of direction or for cable support. • Fairleads are also used to guide control cables. • Cable guides are used to protect cables from damage. • Seals are used in those areas where cables extend from pressurized portion to unpressurized areas. CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION Control Cables: • Turnbuckles are normally included in the cable system for setting cable tension and serving as disconnect points. • Turnbuckles are threaded devices that have one end with RH threads and opposite end with LH threads. CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION Control Cables: CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION Push-Pull Tubes: • Push-Pull tubes are able to transmit force in either direction. • It may be solid or hollow. • The ends attached to the push-pull rods may be fixed or adjustable. CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION Bellcranks & Levers: • Bellcranks are constructed so that a series of levers are able to receive an input signal and deliver an output. • The output from a lever or Bellcranks may amplify the input or vice-versa. • Generally bellcranks change the direction of movement. CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION Jackscrews: • Jackscrews are commonly employed for moving surfaces that experience extreme aerodynamic loads. • Jackscrews are threaded units that convert rotary motion into linear travel. CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION Torque Tubes: • Torque tubes apply torsional, or rotating, motion to a member of the control system. • Torque tubes apply torsional, or rotating, motion to a member of the control system CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION HYDROMECHANICAL CONTROL • As the size, complexity and speed of aircraft increases, a power assisted (hydraulic) control system was implemented. • Conventional cable or push-pull tube systems link the flight deck controls with the hydraulic system. • This control system provides a mechanical advantage to the pilot. CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION HYDROMECHANICAL CONTROL • Because of the mechanical advantage the pilot cannot feel the aerodynamic forces acting on the control surfaces. • To overcome this problem, artificial feel system is incorporated. CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION