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M - Ch1 Gliding Book

This document provides an overview of the primary and secondary flight controls of a glider. It describes the pitch, roll, and yaw axes and how the stick controls pitch and roll and the rudder controls yaw. It also details the functions of secondary controls like the towrope release, airbrakes, wheel brake, elevator trim, flaps, and retractable landing gear. The purpose is to teach pilots the names and effects of the glider's controls before they do pre-flight inspections or take to the air.

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Kinnata Nikko
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50 views6 pages

M - Ch1 Gliding Book

This document provides an overview of the primary and secondary flight controls of a glider. It describes the pitch, roll, and yaw axes and how the stick controls pitch and roll and the rudder controls yaw. It also details the functions of secondary controls like the towrope release, airbrakes, wheel brake, elevator trim, flaps, and retractable landing gear. The purpose is to teach pilots the names and effects of the glider's controls before they do pre-flight inspections or take to the air.

Uploaded by

Kinnata Nikko
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

CHAPTER 1: ORIENTATION, PRE-FLIGHT,

POST-FLIGHT
You must learn some basic information before you can take to the air. In this
chapter, you will learn about the gliders controls and instruments, how to
inspect the glider and towrope, how to move the glider around on the ground,
and how to secure the glider when you are finished with it.

Orientation, Pre-Flight, Post-Flight


1

1.1 Primary Flight Controls


Purpose
In this lesson, you will learn the names, locations, and effects of the gliders
primary flight controls.
Procedure
The primary flight controls consist of the stick and rudder pedals. They control
the movement of the glider about its three axes: pitch, roll, and yaw.

Figure 1.1 The pitch, roll, and yaw axes intersect at the center of
gravity of the glider.

Pitch is rotation of the glider about the horizontal axis that is parallel to the
wings. Pitching the glider moves the nose up and down.
Roll is rotation of the glider about the horizontal axis that is parallel to the
fuselage (often referred to as the longitudinal axis). Rolling the glider causes one
wing to move up and the other down.
Yaw is rotation about the vertical axis. Yawing the glider causes the nose to move
from side to side.
Pitch Control
Moving the stick fore and aft causes the elevator (or stabilator) to deflect,
changing the pitch of the glider and the angle of attack of the wing. In normal,
level flight, moving the stick forward causes the nose of the glider to pitch down,
decreasing the angle of attack and increasing the airspeed of the glider. Moving
the stick back pitches the nose up, increasing the angle of attack and decreasing
the airspeed of the glider.

Lesson 1.1

Orientation, Pre-Flight, Post-Flight


2

Figure 1.2 The elevator controls pitch.

In later lessons, you will learn that when the glider is stalled, it will not necessarily react to control inputs the same way it does when in normal flight.
Roll Control
Moving the stick from side to side deflects the ailerons, causing the glider to roll.
When the stick is moved to the right, the right aileron moves up and the left
aileron moves down, causing the glider to roll to the right.

Figure 1.3 The ailerons control roll.

Because gliders have such long wings, the response to the ailerons tends to be a
bit sluggish, especially at low airspeeds.
When the ailerons are deflected, the wing that creates more lift also creates more
induced drag. This causes the glider to yaw opposite the direction that the stick
is moved. This tendency is called adverse yaw. (See Chapter 3: Glider Aerodynamics in the Glider Pilots Manual of Aeronautical Knowledge.) The rudder must be
used to counteract adverse yaw.

Orientation, Pre-Flight, Post-Flight


3

Lesson 1.1

Yaw Control
The rudder pedals control the glider about the yaw axis. Pushing on the right
rudder deflects the rudder to the right, forcing the nose to the right, and vice
versa.

Figure 1.4 The rudder controls yaw.

Again, the long wings of a glider tend to make it respond to the rudder rather
slowly. The glider will tend to oscillate in yaw because of the momentum of the
wings and the relatively small amount of damping provided by the vertical
stabilizer.
Completion Standard
This lesson is complete when you can locate and describe the effects of the stick
and rudder pedals.

Lesson 1.1

Orientation, Pre-Flight, Post-Flight


4

1.2 Secondary Flight Controls


Purpose
In this lesson, you will learn about the remaining flight controls, including the
towrope release, the airbrakes, the wheel brake, and the elevator trim. If the
glider you are using for flight training is equipped with a retractable undercarriage or flaps, the location and use of their controls will also be covered in this
lesson.
Procedure
Towrope Release
The tow hook is opened by the towrope release knob. This knob is usually
located on the instrument panel or on the left side of the glider. Your instructor
will show you the location of the towrope release knob in the glider that you will
use for training.
Airbrakes
The airbrakes are used for glide slope control. In this manual, the term airbrakes will be used to refer to both dive brakes and spoilers. The airbrakes are
used to control the glide path of the glider. For a steeper path, you use more
airbrakes.

Figure 1.5 As the airbrake handle is pulled back, the airbrakes open. The airbrakes control the glide path.
On most gliders, pulling the airbrakes all the way open engages the wheel brake.

The airbrakes are deployed by moving the airbrake handle. The airbrake handle
is usually located on the left side of the glider. Your instructor will demonstrate
how to unlock and deploy the airbrakes. On many gliders, pulling the airbrake
handle all the way back engages the wheel brake. On others, the wheel brake is
activated by a lever mounted on the control stick, or elsewhere in the cockpit.
Elevator Trim
The elevator trim is used to set the airspeed at which the glider will fly when no
fore or aft force is applied to the control stick. Your instructor will show you the
location and function of the trim control on the glider you are using for your
training.

Orientation, Pre-Flight, Post-Flight


5

Lesson 1.2

Flaps
Some gliders have flaps that decrease the stall speed by increasing the amount of
lift that the wing can produce. Flaps can also be used to decrease the drag at high
airspeeds. If your glider is equipped with flaps, your instructor will show you
the location and function of the flap control.
Undercarriage
Some gliders have retractable landing gear (also referred to as the undercarriage)
for decreasing drag during flight. If your glider is so equipped, your instructor
will explain the procedure for retracting and lowering the gear.
Completion Standard
This lesson is complete when you can locate and describe the use of the towrope
release, airbrakes, wheel brake, and trim controls, and if the training glider is so
equipped, the flaps and undercarriage controls.

Lesson 1.2

Orientation, Pre-Flight, Post-Flight


6

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