Rudder…..

A rudder is a vertical control surface usually hinged to the tail post aft of the vertical stabilizer and designed to apply , yawing movements to the airplane, that is, to make it turn to the right or left about the vertical axis. The movement of the rudder is controlled by pedals or a “rudder bar” operated by the feet of the pilot. When the right pedal is pressed, the rudder swings to the right, thus bringing an increase of dynamic air pressure on its right side. This increased pressure causes the tail of the airplane to swing to the left and the nose to turn to the right.

Although it appears that the rudder causes the airplane to turn, it must be pointed out that the rudder it self cannot cause the airplane to make a good turn. We remember from the newtons first law of motion states that a moving body tends to continue moving in a straight line unless some out side force changes its direction. When rudder is applied to an airplane in flight, the airplane will turn but it will continue to travel in the same direction as before unless a correcting force is applied. Thus, with rudder only, we find that the airplane skids. In order to prevent this skid in a turn, we use ailerons to bank the airplane. Anyone who drives a car will know that a banked turn is much easier to negotiate at comparatively high speeds in a car than a flat turn. It is the same with an airplane. To prevent skidding in a turn, the airplane must be banked.

Too much of a bank without sufficient rudder in a turn will cause slipping; that is, the airplane will slide down toward the inside of the turn. It is therefore necessary that the proper amount of rudder an aileron be applied when entering a turn in order to produce what is termed a coordinated turn. Usually, after the airplane is placed in a turn, the rudder pressure is almost neutralized to hold the turn. Like-wise, it is necessary to reduce the amount of aileron used to place the airplane in the turn. Another factor to note concerning turn is that the steeper the turn, the more the elevator will have to be used.

Aircraft Technician Training

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