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Posted

Simple question for the simple pilot. What makes an airplane turn?  Rudder, aileron, elevator, bank, etc,?

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Posted

The pilot :)

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Posted

Depends on your definition of turning. You can use all the control surfaces to change direction....or one...just requires orchestration and balance

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Posted (edited)

The bank angle tilts the lift from the wings, so some of that lift points to the side, which pulls the airplane in that direction. The trim ball stays centered, showing that the side force is balanced by the bank angle. You can create a turn purely with rudder, since that will make a side force to turn you, but when you do that, the turn is flat and the side force is unbalanced, so you skid and are pulled to the outside of the turn. A banked airplane is exactly like a banked car, where the tilt allows you to feel comfortable as the turn takes place.

So, the ailerons bank the wings, tilts the lift of the wings so some points sideward, and that turns you.

 

here is s good, well illustrated discussion:

https://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to-fly/aerodynamics/the-aerodynamics-of-a-turn-in-an-airplane/

Edited by nlappos

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Posted

I know the correct method. That question was asked to a group at a meeting one time and you wouldn't believe the number of crazy answers. The whole discussion was about stall/spin accidents.  I found it interesting that in most stall/spin crashes the engine was running normal, and the aircraft was in some type of turn when it went into a spin.

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Posted

A flock of geese will make an airplane turn too.

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Posted (edited)

If you are taking a check ride or flight review and the instructor/examiner asks you that question, the correct answer is, up elevator makes the airplane turn.

FWIW, the only thing that makes the airplane stall is the pilot pulling back on the stick.  Always remember that when you are in a turn.

Edited by tcj

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Posted

Interesting, this group might be a little smarter than the average bear, hey, Boo Boo.  Its all about angle of attack. BTW, anybody in favor of AOA indicators?

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Posted

It's far from a simple question.

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Posted

It's far from a simple question.

You could very well be correct. Not knowing has ended a lot of pilots.

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Posted

depends on the amount of dihedral as to how the plane will react and what will turn it.  flatter wings need aileron input while high dihedral wings can make coordinated turns using rudder and elevator alone.  It is a dance that one must learn depending on what bird they are flying.  The flight characteristics of one plane does not always follow on another.

:BC:

 

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Posted (edited)

Interesting that the low-speed, skidding turn (too much rudder) is the dangerous  one.  It must be the wonked fuselage's wake that helps the underpriveleged, higher-AOA Inside wing to let go first.  Accelerated stalls happen above rectilinear stall speed, and turns involve centripital acceleration, and pulling some Gs, as we all know.  This is the classic spin entry that seems to kill so many pilots when maneuvering for landing.  Slips, on the other hand, are relatively safe.  This is good, especially when landing in crosswinds. Cool that you can bank, yet stop the turn with rudder, allowing you to slide sideways without actually pointing in the direction you're going!  Then, you're even safe to stall this way!  Aren't airplanes cool?

Edited by Turbo

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