Theory of Flight

6.08 Aircraft Stability

References:
FTGU pages 31, 32
 Review
1. Define load.

2. What is the difference between live load

and dead load?

3. What is the load factor in a 60O turn?

4. Describe the forces acting in a turn.

 6.08 Aircraft Stability
MTPs:
• Definitions
• Longitudinal Stability
• Lateral Stability
• Directional Stability
 Definitions
Stability: How an aircraft reacts to
disturbances while in flight

Types of stability:
• Dynamic (positive, neutral, negative)
• Static
• Inherent
 Definitions
Dynamic Stability
– The overall tendency of an aircraft, when disturbed, to
return to its original position

Positive: airplane will return

to its position
Negative: airplane will tend
to move further away from
its position
Neutral: airplane will
neither return to its position
nor continue to change
 Definitions
• Static Stability
– The initial tendency of an aircraft, when
disturbed, to return to its original position
 Definitions
Inherent Stability
• Built in characteristics to enable the
airplane to be either stable or unstable
• Stability may be built into each aircraft axis
creating
– Longitudinal stability
– Lateral stability
– Directional stability
 Longitudinal Stability
• Stability around the lateral axis
• Also known as pitch stability
 Longitudinal Stability
• Longitudinal stability is affected by:
1. Size and position of horizontal stabilizer
2. Position of the C of G
 Longitudinal Stability

Centre of Gravity (C of G)
• C of G too far forward
– Required loading on the horizontal tail
surfaces to maintain angle of attack increases
– Overall weight of aircraft increases
– Stall speed increases
 Longitudinal Stability

• C of G too far aft

– Decreased longitudinal stability because
centre of gravity is behind the centre of
pressure
– Violent stall characteristics
– Poor stall recovery (very dangerous!)
– Stall speed decreases
 Longitudinal Stability
A - C of G too far
forward
STALL SPEED
INCREASES

B - C of G too far aft

STALL SPEED
DECREASES
 Lateral Stability
• Stability around the longitudinal axis
• Also known as roll stability
 Lateral Stability

Lateral stability is created through

1. Dihedral
2. Keel effect
3. Sweepback wings
Lateral Stability
Dihedral
• The angle that each wing
makes with the horizontal
of the aircraft
• The lowered wing will
produce more lift and will
roll back into place

• Downgoing wing
• = greater angle of attack
• = increased lift
 Lateral Stability
Keel Effect
– When disturbed, weight of the aircraft acts
like a pendulum to swing aircraft back into
position
– Natural feature of high wing aircraft
– Weight of the aircraft lies under the wings
 Lateral Stability
Sweepback
– Leading edge of the wing slopes backward
– When one wing is dropped, the lowered wing produces
more lift than the raised wing and the original position
is restored
 Directional Stability
Stability around the vertical or normal axis
 Directional Stability
Vertical Tail Surface (fin and rudder)
• Airplanes have a tendency to fly directly into the relative
airflow due to the vertical tail surface
• When disturbed the relative airflow will hit the side of the
vertical tail surface and push it back into position
 Directional Stability
• Sweep Back
Confirmation
 Confirmation
Match the axes with the factors affecting them

Longitudinal Stability
1. Keel effect
2. C of G
Lateral Stability 3. Sweepback
4. Vertical Stabilizer
5. Horizontal Stabilizer
Directional Stability 6. Dihedral
 Confirmation
What is the difference between dynamic
stability and static stability?

How does dihedral affect lateral stability?

How does the vertical stabilizer affect

directional stability?
Snowbirds – CT-114