How does a plane turn?

[rgmwa]

Anatomy of a turn explained. Quite instructive.

 

 

rgmwa

 

 

[Deskpilot]

Obviously not flown an LSA55 Jabiru has he.

 

 

[Jabiru7252]

Hmmm, so the gravitron doesn't distort space and time which results in a turn?

 

 

[rgmwa]

Hmmm, so the gravitron doesn't distort space and time which results in a turn?

It does, but only when you approach the speed of light. The effects are less noticeable at 80 kts.

 

rgmwa

 

 

[Rastus]

Geez, I'm glad he wasn't my instructor!

 

It wasn't released first of April was it?

 

Robert

 

 

[Rastus]

I was taught by a WW2 vintage instructor and his idea was that co-ordinated use of all three controls was what caused an aeroplane to turn. To this day, I use one of his bits of patter when instructing in gliders:

 

ARE we making a correct turn?

 

Ailerons to maintain the desired angle of bank.

 

Rudder to remove slip or skid.

 

Elevator to maintain the desired pitch attitude/airspeed.

 

Simple really.

 

Robert

 

 

[facthunter]

Funny way to present it. You do need extra lift in a turn so the elevators are pretty important. The more bank the more extra lift and back elevator. If you had e vertical bank (which is an impossibility to maintain) the elevator would be what is turning you. The rudder is just a balance control. Initiating a turn, ( rolling into it) and rolling out of a turn may require rudder and it will usually be when you are applying aileron to CHANGE the bank angle that you need it most due mainly to adverse aileron drag. Extra lift always comes with extra drag so more power is often required to do any turn with larger angles of bank. You also need more airspeed to maintain stall margins, so eventually your power available is the limiting factor as the bank angle increases. (assuming the airframe can handle the extra loading) if you need to maintain level flight. You can still continue to bank more if you are prepared to lose height. 45 degrees is probably considered the normal max for our aircraft I would think, which is a bit tame if you are wanting to practice some of these things, so you have to do it in the correct aircraft. Nev

 

 

[David Isaac]

Well he is 100% correct and if we don't understand these principles! maybe this is why so many of us dying in accidents that should not happen.

 

DJPacro just put something similar up on his Facebook page promoting his upset training.

 

 

[facthunter]

IF you bank an aircraft you incline the lift to one side. This provides the force to turn the plane (change it's direction)To oppose that force,(stop the turn) you would have to use the keel surface of the banked plane, which would force your body weight to be against the bottom side of the aircraft, where the balance ball would also be. You are then sideslipping. Nev

 

 

[David Isaac]

And without an increased 'up' force from the elevator simply banking the aircraft wouldn't necessarily turn it, as we do in a side slip and you have pointed out.

 

 

[Marty_d]

How does a plane turn?

 

If you treat it right it won't. Feed it regularly, keep it healthy, take it out for a fly, and don't yell at it for leaking in the hangar. It's only when pilots neglect their planes, don't give them love and affection, don't feed and groom them, and mistreat them... THAT's when your plane may turn...