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Control surfaces: Difference between revisions
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==Ailerons== | ==Ailerons== | ||
[[Image:Ailerons.jpg|thumb|300px|Ailerons (red) on the wings of a [[Cessna C172]]]]'''Ailerons''' are hinged control surfaces attached to the trailing edge of the wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. The ailerons are used to control the aircraft in roll. The two ailerons are typically interconnected so that one goes down when the other goes up: the downgoing aileron increases the lift on its wing while the upgoing aileron reduces the lift on the other wing, producing a rolling moment about the aircraft's longitudinal axis. The word aileron is French for "little wing." | [[Image:Ailerons.jpg|thumb|300px|Ailerons (red) on the wings of a [[Cessna C172]]]]'''Ailerons''' are hinged control surfaces attached to the trailing edge of the wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. The ailerons are used to control the aircraft in roll. The two ailerons are typically interconnected so that one goes down when the other goes up: the downgoing aileron increases the lift on its wing while the upgoing aileron reduces the lift on the other wing, producing a rolling moment about the aircraft's longitudinal axis. The word aileron is French for "little wing." | ||
==Wingtip Devices== | |||
[[Image:Wingtip_device.jpg|thumb|300px|A wingtip device (red) on the wing of a [[Boeing 747]]]]'''Wingtip device'''s, sometimes know as winglets, are usually intended to improve the efficiency of fixed-wing [[aircraft]]. There are several types of devices, and though they function in different manners, the intended aerodynamic effect is to modify the aircraft's wake in some beneficial manner. Wingtip devices can also improve aircraft handling characteristics. From a marketing standpoint, they are also valued for their aesthetic appeal, and aircraft have been equipped with them for cosmetic reasons as well. | |||
==Elevators== | ==Elevators== | ||
[[Image:Elevator.jpg|thumb|300px|Elevators on the tail of a [[Boeing 777-200]]]]'''Elevator'''s are control surfaces, usually at the rear of an aircraft, which control the aircraft's orientation by changing the pitch of the aircraft, and so also the angle of attack of the wing. An increased wing angle of attack will cause a greater lift to be produced by the profile of the wing, and a slowing of the aircraft. A decreased angle of attack will produce an increase in speed (a dive). The elevators may be the only pitch control surface present (and are then called a stabilator), or may be hinged to a fixed or adjustable surface called a stabilizer. | [[Image:Elevator.jpg|thumb|300px|Elevators on the tail of a [[Boeing 777-200]]]]'''Elevator'''s are control surfaces, usually at the rear of an aircraft, which control the aircraft's orientation by changing the pitch of the aircraft, and so also the angle of attack of the wing. An increased wing angle of attack will cause a greater lift to be produced by the profile of the wing, and a slowing of the aircraft. A decreased angle of attack will produce an increase in speed (a dive). The elevators may be the only pitch control surface present (and are then called a stabilator), or may be hinged to a fixed or adjustable surface called a stabilizer. | ||