[WWI] Balanced vs. unbalanced ailerons.

[Rusty Scott]

 The other thought because people get terms confused, we all do....... If you look at many control surfaces like Fokker's aileron tips on DVI, DVII and Dr1s, they are "counterbalanced". Many planes have had this to improve feel or make a lighter stick. I have read that this was Fokker's intention with the "counterbalanced" aileron, rudder and elevator designs he so frequently used. The aileron forward tip edge that goes up when the main part of the aileron goes down assists the pilot with a lighter control or stick feel. The same is true even with some modern planes like the ailerons on a CAP 21. They have a small "counterbalance" on the wing tip that helps lighten the feel of the big surface. All neat stuff and truly amazing that these early designers knew the aerodynamic principal and applied it so early in aviation development.

Rusty 

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tom Morgan 
  To: World War I Modeling Mailing List 
  Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 9:41 AM
  Subject: Re: [WWI] Balanced vs. unbalanced ailerons.


  Yup, from "Practical Flying - Complete Course of Flying Instruction" by W. G. McMinnies, 1918 -
      Ailerons, Balanced: By connecting the ailerons of each wing, so that when one is pulled down and the other is pulled up the surfaces are made to balance.

  Tom
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Rusty Scott 
    To: World War I Modeling Mailing List 
    Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 7:53 AM
    Subject: Re: [WWI] Balanced vs. unbalanced ailerons.


     The ailerons cant both droop when not in flight in a cable control system. They are connected to a single control device. One goes up and the other goes down........... Balancing (like in a Gee Bee Z) is done to prevent flutter and aid in the feel of the control surface.

    Rusty
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: tim mixon 
      To: wwi at wwi-models.org 
      Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 2:00 PM
      Subject: [WWI] Balanced vs. unbalanced ailerons.


      Hello, I have a general question about ailerons.  If a plane has unbalanced ailerons would all of them droop downward when at rest? How would they work in flight in that fasion? It seems to me they would be independent of each other.  thanks   Tim
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