3.1 Aircraft Flight Controls

• Classification of aircraft flight controls: primary and secondary controls
• The three axes of an aircraft and the motions about them: roll, pitch and yaw
• Primary flight controls: ailerons, elevators and rudder
• Secondary flight controls: flaps, slats, spoilers, trim tabs and balance tabs
• Methods of operation of flight control systems: mechanical, hydraulic and fly-by-wire
• Components of a mechanical flight control system from the cockpit to the control surfaces
• Cockpit controls: control column or stick, rudder pedals and throttle
• Control hardware: cables, pulleys, fairleads, turnbuckles, push-pull rods, torque tubes, bellcranks and quadrants
• Balancing control surfaces: mass balance and aerodynamic balance
• Actuators and servo tabs in flight control systems
• Modelling a mechanical flight control system
• The role of flight control systems in the operation of an aircraft
• Advancements in flight control systems and how they enhance safety

• classify flight controls in the operation of an aircraft
• describe the methods of operation of flight control systems
• illustrate the construction of a mechanical flight control system
• model a mechanical flight control system used in flight operations
• simulate the movement of mechanical flight control systems
• recognise the role of flight control systems in the operation of an aircraft

“Why are aircraft control systems important?”

“How can advancements in aircraft control systems enhance safety?”

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1. Introduction to flight controls
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Introduce flight controls and the key inquiry question.
2. Aircraft axes and motions
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe the three axes and the motions about them.
3. Classifying flight controls
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Classify flight controls as primary or secondary.
4. Primary flight controls
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe the three primary flight controls and their action.
5. The ailerons
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe the ailerons and how they roll the aircraft.
6. The elevators
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe the elevators and how they pitch the aircraft.
7. The rudder
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe the rudder and how it yaws the aircraft.
8. Secondary flight controls
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe the secondary flight controls and their jobs.
9. Flaps
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe flaps and how they increase lift and drag.
10. Slats and leading edge devices
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe slats and how they smooth the airflow over a wing.
11. Spoilers and speed brakes
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe spoilers and how they reduce lift and add drag.
12. Trim tabs and balance tabs
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe tabs and how they reduce the effort needed on the controls.
13. Methods of operating flight controls
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe mechanical, hydraulic and fly-by-wire control systems.
14. Cables and pulleys
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe how cables and pulleys carry a control movement.
15. Rods, bellcranks and quadrants
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe the linkages that carry and change a control movement.
16. Hydraulic control systems
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe how a hydraulic system moves the control surfaces.
17. Fly-by-wire control systems
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe a fly-by-wire control system and its safety features.
18. Cockpit controls
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe the cockpit controls used by the pilot.
19. Balancing control surfaces
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe mass balance and aerodynamic balance of control surfaces.
20. Actuators and servo tabs
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Describe linear actuators and servo tabs in a control system.
21. Modelling a control system
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Model a mechanical flight control system from the cockpit to the surfaces.
22. The role of flight controls
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Explain the role of flight controls and how advances improve safety.