Flight control systems allow pilots to control aircraft attitude, direction, and aerodynamic forces during flight. Understanding how primary and secondary flight controls operate is essential for safe and effective aircraft handling. Flight Controls Aircraft flight control systems are divided into primary and secondary systems. The ailerons, elevator (or stabilator), and rudder constitute the primary control … Read more
Flight control systems allow pilots to control aircraft attitude, direction, and stability during flight. Understanding how different control systems operate is essential for safe and effective aircraft handling. This section explains the flight control systems pilots use to control aircraft attitude, direction, and aerodynamic forces. Flight control systems and handling characteristics vary depending on the … Read more
When introducing a student to the flight controls of a helicopter, the instructor must ensure the student understands how each control affects the flight of the aircraft. [Figure 1] The student may not be comfortable with the helicopter controls for some time, but must understand the function of each control and the reactions of the … Read more
Autopilot systems help pilots control aircraft attitude, heading, altitude, and navigation during flight. Understanding how autopilot systems operate improves workload management, situational awareness, and flight safety. An autopilot is an automatic flight control system that maintains an aircraft in level flight or on a selected course. It may be controlled directly by the pilot or … Read more
There are three major controls in a helicopter that the pilot must use during flight. They are the collective pitch control, the cyclic pitch control, and the antitorque pedals or tail rotor control. In addition to these major controls, the pilot must also use the throttle control, which is usually mounted directly to the collective … Read more