Learn to Turn

[rstowell]

Loss of control-inflight remains the top cause of fatal accidents in general aviation and occurs most often while maneuvering. Most pilots memorize the "horizontal component of lift" mantra and learn to perform rudimentary turns under mostly ideal conditions. With the added stress of an emergency or when more complex maneuvering is required, however, pilots often botch their turns -- sometimes catastrophically.

The majority of pilots do not realize that the elevator is their primary turn control. In other words, whether or not the flightpath follows a straight line or the arc of a circle depends not on the bank angle, but largely on what the pilot chooses to do with the elevator.

See “Learn to Turn” (07:50) --

 

[Jim Logajan]

BTW, I could make the same comment about the parachute crowd since they have no elevator.

I believe a parachute turns due to a couple[1] whose two forces are oriented 90 degrees to the direction of flight, while an airplane turns due to a couple whose two forces are oriented 0 degrees to the direction of flight. The origin of the couples in the two cases aren't related at all. So there appears to be little of value to be learned about flying airplanes from flying parachutes (or any weight shift aircraft.)

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couple_(mechanics)

 

[Jim Logajan]

It is either the horizontal component of lift or 'the controls' that turn an aircraft. Pick one.

Since the thread is titled "Learn to Turn," not "Learn about Turns," the ultimate focus would seem to be proper use of controls.

If I understand Stowell's point, it is that ailerons and rudders (to a first order approximation) should be treated primarily as attitude controls, and only the elevator affects the flight path.

I believe most people who are asked to imagine an airplane flying in a large enclosed sphere in deep space that is in freefall would be able to figure out the actual affect of each set of controls.