Trimming control surfaces - Printable Version
+- All-Aircraft-Simulations (https://allaircraftsimulations.com)
+-- Forum: Off Topic (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=275)
+--- Forum: Reference Center (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=278)
+--- Thread: Trimming control surfaces (/showthread.php?tid=59503)
+- All-Aircraft-Simulations (https://allaircraftsimulations.com)
+-- Forum: Off Topic (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=275)
+--- Forum: Reference Center (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=278)
+--- Thread: Trimming control surfaces (/showthread.php?tid=59503)
Trimming control surfaces - P/O W. 'Moggy' Cattermole - 21.02.2009
Ok, so every aeroplane i've flown on this i can trim the elevators and rudders so that the plane can more or less fly level. However, not every aircraft can trim its ailerons, especially fighters. As such, i cannot trim these aircraft to fly perfectly straight. It isn't a big deal, i managed for ages to fly without trimming anything, but is this my own stupidity, or is it that certain aircraft couldn't trim ailerons?
- Guest - 21.02.2009
Moggy, it's because those AC couldn't trim their ailerons, I would think. The Lagg-3, for example, can't trim ailerons...
- Dr. Strangelove - 21.02.2009
Ah, right...
I was just about to post something about my beloved Bf-109s myself - they can't trim rudders or ailerons. I've learned to live with it.
~ Strangelove
Is that a Biff I spotted?
- Gonzo - 21.02.2009
Not all aircraft have trim on all their control surfaces. Even most modern light aircraft only have elevator trim.
Adding the trim surfaces and the gear to operate them adds weight, complexity, and build time to an aircraft. If the stick/control forces aren't too great, the designers will leave them out.
- P/O W. 'Moggy' Cattermole - 21.02.2009
ok cheers people. Just what i wanted to know!
- tsb47 - 21.02.2009
What about the i-16, it seems to have no trim, including no elevator trim....
- Plantoid 1 - 21.02.2009
As a point of interest, here in Niagara a fellow named Ed Russel has a Spit, a Hurri and a 109. Talking to the chief pilot, John Romaine, he told me that they'd take the Spit up for a test hop and check the trim. On landing the rigger would use a block of wood and rubber mallet to bash the trailing edge, of the wing which was low, down a bit to increase lift. He showed me the evidence on the port wing and you could clearly see the small bend down just inboard of the aileron.
Rather hit or miss but somewhat effective and, given the life expectancy of a fighter in the war, probably all that was necessary.
Great days all.
- Gonzo - 22.02.2009
Quote:What about the i-16, it seems to have no trim, including no elevator trim....
Fast jets (Modern fighters) have full moving control surfaces. The trim system on these aircraft moves the entire control and not just a small tab attached to it.
Quote:As a point of interest, here in Niagara a fellow named Ed Russel has a Spit, a Hurri and a 109. Talking to the chief pilot, John Romaine, he told me that they'd take the Spit up for a test hop and check the trim. On landing the rigger would use a block of wood and rubber mallet to bash the trailing edge, of the wing which was low, down a bit to increase lift. He showed me the evidence on the port wing and you could clearly see the small bend down just inboard of the aileron.
Rather hit or miss but somewhat effective and, given the life expectancy of a fighter in the war, probably all that was necessary.
The part of the control surface that they were "Adjusting" is called a fixed trim tab. It can only be adjusted on the ground, and yes, it is rather hit and miss.
- OberstDanjeje - 22.02.2009
Gonzo Wrote:Fast jets (Modern fighters) have full moving control surfaces. The trim system on these aircraft moves the entire control and not just a small tab attached to it.
Even the Bf 109 and the Fw 190 used this kind of trim, called stabilizer trim
- Maxisonfire - 22.02.2009
tsb47 Wrote:What about the i-16, it seems to have no trim, including no elevator trim....
i-16 never had trimmers in real life.
- caldrail - 22.02.2009
Some aircraft had 'fixed' trim, which amounted to a bendy strip of metal on the control surface altered on the ground by mechanics.
- Skunkmeister - 22.02.2009
Plantoid 1 Wrote:of the wing which was low, down a bit to increase lift.
Ok first of all, contrarily to what people think, trim tabs work "backwards".
If you have one wing that is dropping, you will bend the tab up. Bending the tab up or down doesnt affect lift in any way. In this case where we bend the tab up on a dropping wing, the tab creates a downward force on the aileron, which then increases the camber and thus the lift on that side.
- Plantoid 1 - 22.02.2009
Skunkmeister:
The alteration on the Spitfire is made to the wing, not the aileron. Yes, aileron tabs work backwards but a bend down on the wing still generates more lift.
Great days all.
- Skunkmeister - 22.02.2009
Oh I see what you are saying. I must have read you too fast.