Turning an Aircraft

 

How do airplanes change directions?

Aileron ("little wing" or "fin") - a moving element of the wing on its trailing edge, which allows you to change the lift force created by the wing. Typically, one aileron is located on each wing. Ailerons move synchronously, but in different directions. 

Ailerons are used to tilt the aircraft along the longitudinal axis (that is, the angle of roll is changed with the help of the aileron). When the ailerons are in a neutral position, they form the back of the wing and have no effect.

When moving a control stick or joystick is tilted to the left, the left aileron rises, causing the air flow to create a upward force on the left wing. At the same time, the right aileron lowers, decreasing the lift on the right wing. 

The cumulative effect makes the plane tilt to the left. The aircraft will continue to roll to the left until you return the handle to its original state. 

When you tilt the handle to the right, the exact opposite happens - the plane begins to roll to the right.

On some airplanes exist two types of ailerons, so 2 of them on each wing.
1. Outboard Aileron
2. Inboard Aileron

The outboard aileron is situated at the trailing edge closer to tip of the wing.
An outboard aileron – it rolls the airplane, but it is working at low speeds.

The inboard aileron is situated between the inboard and outboard flaps
An inboard aileron—it rolls the airplane. But, it will work at high cruise speeds while the outboard aileron gets disabled. The inboard aileron also functions as a flap, it is called flaperon (we will prepare a post about it in upcoming post.) and it can be extended slightly to give the wings more lift at lower speeds.