Understanding Stability and Control in Airplanes

❗When an airplane is in straight and level flight, all the forces acting on it are in equilibrium.

📌Static stability refers to the initial response an airplane displays after its equilibrium is disrupted.

🔁Dynamic stability involves the amount of time it takes for an airplane to react to its static stability after being displaced.

🛩️Longitudinal stability involves the tendency of an airplane to return to a properly trimmed angle of attack.

🌬️Lateral stability is achieved through the design characteristic of dihedral, which aims to bring the wings back to a level flight attitude.

What is static stability?

—Static stability refers to the initial response an airplane displays after its equilibrium is disrupted.

What is dynamic stability?

—Dynamic stability involves the amount of time it takes for an airplane to react to its static stability after being displaced.

What is longitudinal stability?

—Longitudinal stability involves the tendency of an airplane to return to a properly trimmed angle of attack.

How is lateral stability achieved?

—Lateral stability is achieved through the design characteristic of dihedral, which aims to bring the wings back to a level flight attitude.

Why is weight and balance important in determining longitudinal stability?

—Weight and balance play a significant role in determining longitudinal stability as they affect the location of the center of gravity relative to the center of lift.

00:05When an airplane is in straight and level flight, all the forces acting on it are in equilibrium.

00:26Static stability refers to the initial response an airplane displays after its equilibrium is disrupted.

01:30Dynamic stability involves the amount of time it takes for an airplane to react to its static stability after being displaced.

03:35Longitudinal stability involves the tendency of an airplane to return to a properly trimmed angle of attack.

05:46Lateral stability is achieved through the design characteristic of dihedral, which aims to bring the wings back to a level flight attitude.