Page 33 - EAA78.Newsletter.Archives.(February.2017-July.2021)
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CHAPTER CHATTER, EAA Chapter 78 2
When we make a turn in flight - Cessna or low-wing Piper. In some
why do we use the rudder? airplanes, turns are almost all rudder with
very little aileron movement, as the extra lift
on the outside wing during the yaw
produces roll.
The goal, obviously, is to apply enough
rudder to keep the ball centered and
maintain coordinated flight. We do this by
"stepping on the ball" if it slings out left or
right during a turn. But you shouldn't need
to look at the turn coordinator and ball to
make coordinated turns.
We all know from the books the answer is Instead, look outside at the horizon and
to "correct for adverse yaw" — which is just feel for cues that you are indeed making
a fancy way of saying to overcome drag coordinated turns. If you're not quite sure
from the aileron. about the interplay between aileron, rudder
and elevator during turns, go up with your
When you initiate a turn, which should you instructor and ask him or her to show you
move first, the aileron with the yoke or the first how not to do it. Then you can start
rudder with your feet? The answer is the concentrating on proper control technique
rudder with your feet. Starting a left turn? in turns.
Add left rudder to start the roll in, followed
by aileron and slight back-pressure with the
elevator. When it's time to roll out, add right Quakertown Civil Air Patrol Squadron 904
rudder first and then move your hand.
How much rudder should you apply? That
depends on the airplane. A typical light
trainer like a Cessna Skyhawk doesn't
exhibit much adverse yaw so the answer is
"not much." It's a different story in, say, a
Piper Cub with lots of adverse yaw to
overcome.
A useful trick in the Cub is to imagine a
steel rod connecting the rudder pedals and
stick. As you apply rudder in the direction
of the turn, that imaginary rod should want Many thanks to Col. Gordon Larson who
to pull the stick in that direction by the took C/SrA Mehrman and C/AB Gruver for
same amount. The same lesson applies, to their O-Flights today. We appreciate your
a slightly lesser degree, in a single-engine commitment to our cadets.
