ailerons

You are not missing anything. It'a easier to build strip ailerons. Doesn't take as long or as much skill to build as barn door ailerons. Just build a wing and add on the ailerons.

Dan Thompson (AMA 32873, EAA 60974, WB4GUK, GROL) remove POST in address for email

Those are called "Strip ailerons" and are real easy to build/install and work quite well. They can have one or two servos...doesn't make any real difference. The type of aileron you see on real A/C, and many models, are more difficult to build. They, too, can be driven by two separate servos or just one in the middle with push rods and bell cranks. By putting these on the outboard section of the wing you get more bang for your buck, so to speak, than if you put them on the inboard section. Also, and this is a big also, flaps are installed on the inbd section and never on the outbd. This leaves only one place for the ailerons. Gord Schindler MAAC6694

Easier to build, and less adverse yaw. On certain airplanes barn door ailerons require the use of coordinated turns, where you use the rudder with the ailerons.

Strip ailerons--the length of the wing--are easier to "do" than barn-door ailerons, which are cut into the outer third or so of the wing. No other reason. Ailerons do not need to be the full length, are not not that way on full scale aircraft.

Strip ailerons probably got their start from the full span flaps that control line planes had, AND the cost of servos. In the 'good old days' a servo could run $50 easy. So, put a single servo in the center of the wing and use torque arms to activate them.

David

For most aircraft, having the ailerons at the tips makes the most sense. As you say, most real planes are that way. Flaps are usually placed inboard of them. However, on highly areobatic planes that need control of roll during speeds below stall, full-length ailerons are used. The propwash over the section near the fuselage provides for the needed force. 3D aircraft capable of hanging on the prop so as to hover need the ailerons to be full-length.

Jim - AMA 501383 (remove NOSPAM to reply)

shawn wrote:

On 2/11/2004 2:21 PM Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not so great) words of knowledge:

Besides being "easier" to build, if you use dual servos (one for each aileron), you can set them up as "flaperons". They work as ailerons, but, you can use them as flaps also (you will need a 6 channel computer though).