Abstract
Asymmetry in aircraft can arise either by design or due to an accident. However an asymmetry is introduced, being able to compensate for the handling effects of asymmetric thrust or steering is vital to safe handling of the aircraft. In this chapter, the various methods of introducing asymmetry, and their effects on aircraft handling, are described with particular reference to how civil aviation codes deal with asymmetry and the major behavioural issues that can arise from aircraft asymmetry.
Anyone can do the job, when things are going right.
Ernest K Gann
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
CAUTION: minimum control speed terminology varies a great deal, ensure that the terminology used on any particular aircraft or project is adequately explained and understood.
- 2.
Regarding forward/aft CG and MTOW: the configuration of many aeroplanes, particularly transport types makes achieving any combination of forward CG limit and MTOW impossible—the aeroplane may be loaded aft of the CG range to achieve MTOW but therefore a rearwards CG, or lightly loaded to achieve a forward CG. This makes identifying worst case conditions difficult, and inevitable result is probably an increased number of test conditions.
- 3.
A Royal Air Force Tucano T1 was once lost due to a nose-down pitch trimmer runaway. The control was so powerful that it overwhelmed the pilot’s ability to control the aircraft (admittedly the situation was not helped by the fact that he had just recovered from a spin and therefore presumably partly disoriented), leading to a voluntary ejection. Do not underestimate the ability of trimmers to cause problems!
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gratton, G. (2015). Aeroplane Asymmetry. In: Initial Airworthiness. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11409-5_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11409-5_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-11408-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-11409-5
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)