Sport Pilot Talk

DKarnage · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 57 Location: Baltimore W48

Would an aircraft that requires only slight rudder pressure during maneuvers have more rudder authority during a spin than say one that requires lots of rudder during normal operations? Just somethin that popped in my head at work today...

Jim Stewart · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 259

The simple answer is that there's so many variables it's probably impossible to tell.

Since you're thinking about this stuff, you'd probably enjoy reading "Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying" by Wolfgang Langewiesche.

DKarnage · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 57 Location: Baltimore W48

I've read Stick and Rudder...great book. I actually recommended it to someone on here last week I think. Maybe I should thumb through and see if I can get some more insight.

3Dreaming · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 301 Location: noble, IL USA

The amount of rudder needed to coordinate in flight has more to do with wing and aileron design. The adverse yaw created by the ailerons will determine how much rudder is needed. How effective the rudder is, I don't think, would be related to this. There are several other things that effect spin dynamics as well. Tom

roger lee · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 12:26 am Post subject: Rudder control

The square footage of the rudder will play a big part, not the sensitivity. The next big player in this would be the pilot and his input or lack of at a specific moment.

Daidalos · Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 137 Location: KHWV

Another consideration is rotational velocity. In most spin training you initiate recovery with 1/4 to 1/2 turn. If allowed to continue the rotational forces increase.

The previous posters comments on adverse yaw and rudder square area are right on as well.

I've asked the question with regard to maximum crosswind component for several LSA's I fly. The one with the best component has the bigggest rudder (Tecnam Sierra). Who says size doesn't matter? Oh they weren't talking about rudders.