Activity 1.2.1 Aircraft Control Surfaces and ComponentsIntroduction

Have you ever stuck your hand out the window of a moving vehicle and felt the pressure on your hand? Have you flown your hand, raising and lowering it by changing its pitch or angle? Aircraft also deflect airflow to change direction. In this activity you will identify the components of an aircraft. You will explore aircraft control and stability about the threes axis of flight.

Equipment Pencil (if submitting in paper format)

Procedure1. Label the image below with the correct terms. What is this section of the aircraft

called?

Enter the correct labels

Horizontal Stabilizer

1. ___________________

Elevator

2. ___________________

Vertical Stabilizer

3. ___________________

Rudder

4. ___________________

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2. Label the image below with the correct terms.

Enter the correct labels

1. Aileron

2. Wing

3. Cockpit

4. Fusalage

5. Power Plant

6. Flaps

3. Label the image with the following information:

a. Draw the three axes.

b. Label each axis correctly.

c. Label the correct name of the motion for each axis.

d. Label the correct motion control for each axis.

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Vertical axis (y axis)Yaw Rudder

Horizontal Axis (x axis)Pitch Elevator

Z (axis)Roll Aileron

4. A pilot wishes to make a descending turn to the right. Describe what position the control components will need to be in and what motions the pilot will input to make these components react.

When you want to make a right turn the flap on the rudder turns right so the wind and air can push you right. If you are also moving down the flaps on the wings will move up so the wind can push you down.

5. Describe what a flap does and where it is located on an aircraft.

A flap is controlled to move up and down or left and right. When the flap is up the wind and air pushes the plane down and opposite for the flap is down, it will be pushed up. When the flap turns left it moves the plane left and opposite for the flap moving right. These flaps are usually located on the wings of the plane and on the rudder.

© 2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.AE Activity 1.2.1 Aircraft Control Surfaces and Components – Page 3

Conclusion1. What aircraft have you observed that have components arranged differently or

that are missing specific components? A helicopter has no wings on it but can rotate by the use of the rudder.

2. What improvements would impact aircraft component design?

The use of better fuel efficiency and something that would slow the plane down more to make a safer landing.

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