Probably Everything About Aerodynamics in LTT's and Stability

What is Static Stability

Tendency for an aircraft to return to equilibrium initially

What is Dynamic Stability

Tendency for an aircraft to return to equilibrium over time in oscillations

List the types of lateral stability

Dihedral and Keel effect

What is Dihedral?

Stability from the wings being parallel to the ground.

What is Keel Effect?

Swinging of the fuselage of a high-wing back to equilibrium on the lateral axis.

What is the only directional stability and what does it do?

Weathervane effect. Keeps the plane in line with the wind.

What causes a plane to turn? (Silas’s favorite term!)

The horizontal component of lift.

Name all LTTs (Left Turning Tendencies)

Gyroscopic precession, P-Factor/asymmetrical thrust, Corkscrew/torque effect, Spiraling Slipstream

What is Gyroscopic Precession?

The act of the propellor moving 90 deg past the point of impact when pitching up.

What is P-Factor/Asymmetrical Thrust?

The act of the descending prop blade catching more air as the plane pitches up

What is the Corkscrew/Torque effetc

The act of the spinning prop making the plane want to roll left

What is Spiraling Slipstream?

The act of the rudder being moved from the stream of air the propellor is making

What is Adverse Yaw?

The act of the outside wing getting more drag and wanting to pull the plane to the opposite direction of turning

What is Overbanking?

The act of the outside wing to move faster than the inside, making the plane want to keep banking

What is the Dutch Roll?

When Dihedral is stronger than directional stability, it creates a fishtailing movement of the empennage

What is Spiral Instability?

When directional stability is stronger than dihedral; it makes the plane start to sideslip, so yaw is corrected but lateral stability isn’t so the outside wing gets too much lift and flips over, causing a spin