SECONDARY FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES OF AIRCRAFT

Introduction to the secondary control surfaces of an aircraft

1. SECONDARY FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES FLAPS, SLATS, SPOILERS, TRIM SYSTEMS AND AIR/SPEED BREAKERS

2. FLAPS They are located on the trailing edge of the wings. They are used to increase lift during takeoff and landing by changing the wing’s camber and angle of attack. They have specific limitations to prevent damage or loss of control. They enable a steeper approach path, reducing the landing roll.

3. SLATS They are found on the leading edge of the wings. They extend forward to delay airflow separation at high angles of attack, enhancing lift during slow flight. In some fighter jets, slats can deploy dynamically during high- angle-of-attack maneuvers to maintain the risk off stalling.

4. SPOILERS They are positioned on the upper surface of the wings. Deployed to reduce lift and increase drag, aiding in descent and speed reduction. They also assist in roll control on some aircraft. They increases aerodynamic drag which slows down the aircraft. Some aircraft use spoilers asymmetrically (on one wing only) to assist or replace ailerons in roll control, especially in large aircraft.

5. TRIM SYSTEMS They adjust the neutral position of the primary flight controls to reduce pilot workload. They include the trim tabs for the elevator, rudder, and sometimes ailerons to maintain steady flight without continuous manual input.

6. AIR/ SPEED BREAKERS They are aerodynamic devices used to increase drag on an aircraft, reducing its speed without significantly affecting lift. They are independently installed devices or integrated with spoilers. They help slow the aircraft during descent or landing by increasing drag.