Formula Used:
| From: | To: |
The Elevator Deflection Angle is the angle made by the elevator of an aircraft with the horizontal for an applied stick force. It determines the aircraft's pitch attitude and is crucial for controlling the aircraft's climb, descent, and level flight.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the elevator deflection angle based on the mechanical advantage and force relationships in the aircraft's control system.
Details: Accurate calculation of elevator deflection is essential for aircraft design, flight control system analysis, and ensuring proper handling qualities. It helps determine the control forces required for specific maneuvers and ensures the aircraft responds predictably to pilot inputs.
Tips: Enter stick force in Newtons, stick length in meters, stick deflection angle in radians, and hinge moment in Newton-meters. All values must be positive and non-zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is hinge moment in aircraft controls?
A: Hinge moment is the moment acting on a control surface that the pilot must overcome by exerting a force on the control stick. It's caused by aerodynamic forces on the control surface.
Q2: How does stick length affect elevator deflection?
A: Longer stick lengths provide greater mechanical advantage, requiring less force to achieve the same elevator deflection, but result in larger stick movements.
Q3: What are typical values for elevator deflection angles?
A: Typical elevator deflection angles range from ±15 to ±25 degrees (±0.26 to ±0.44 radians) depending on aircraft type and design.
Q4: Why is this calculation important for aircraft design?
A: This calculation helps designers ensure that control forces remain within acceptable limits for pilots while providing adequate control authority for all flight conditions.
Q5: How does stick deflection relate to elevator deflection?
A: The relationship is determined by the mechanical linkage between the control stick and elevator, with the formula accounting for the force and moment balance in this system.