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Old 04-19-2012, 11:13 PM
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Crumpp Crumpp is offline
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Actually, no idea. Could you explain please? Does that mean the controls DON'T get heavy at speed?
It means the aircraft has precise trim control input. It is already stable.

The stability is one of the reasons for the higher control forces. The high elevator control forces is a function of the "stick force per G" of the control design. It is way beyond the scope of a gaming forum to adequately explain stability and control.

I will try and explain it so you get the basic idea.

There is a point in the aircraft's balance that is called the neutral point. If our center of gravity was placed at this point, the aircraft would have no tendency to return to last condition of trim. It would be neutral and continue in whatever direction we told it too. It would also require no force at all to move the stick, only the resistance from the hinge moments.

Do you know the law of levers; it is the basis for all Stability and control? It says that at the fulcrum, two moments or torque force of the levers will be equal.

Our basic formula for determing the torque force:

Moment = Arm x weight

Weight is the weight of the object or amount of force we place on the arm.

Arm is the distance from the Neutral Point in the case of stability.

Moment is the torque force required to move about the nuetral point.

The distance between our center of gravity and our neutral point determines the stability of the aircraft. The longer our arm or farther away we are from the neutral point, the more torque force we generate to return to last trimmed condition of flight. WTE_Galloway was correct in his explaination.
Understand?

Neutral stability, for the most part, is not good in an aircraft. Neutrally stable aircraft are "twitchy" and difficult to precisely control. Stable aircraft are easier to precisely manuver but come at the cost of higher input forces. The only axis Neutral stability is considered acceptable is lateral. Wings inhernetly have a considerable amount of roll stability.

Unstable is even worse and does require modern fly by wire controls to safely fly the aircraft. Most WWII fighters were just barely stable.

Now is above corner speed, you want a high stick force per G gradiant. It keeps the pilot safe by ensuring he does not destroy the airframe.

Last edited by Crumpp; 04-20-2012 at 12:15 AM.
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