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Airstream and Slipstream

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348 views16 pages

Airstream and Slipstream

Uploaded by

aminoob2u
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AIRSTREAM &

SLIPSTREAM

By Ananya Bhagat
AIRSTREAM
AIRSTREAM : An effect of controls
What is airstream ?

An airstream in aviation is the stream of air


that surrounds an aircraft in flight or
passes through its jets. It can also refer to
the flow of air that is pushed backward by
an aircraft's propeller.
Today we will be focusing on how the
airstream hits our control surfaces which
influences our flight.
01

The emphasis here is on aerodynamic effects. When a control


movement is made on its own, movement initially occurs
around one axis, followed by an undesired movement about
another axis. The main point is that these effects only occur
when the control is used on its own.
PRIMARY CONTROLS AND THEIR
EFFECTS
● RUDDERS – yaw around
normal axis
○ Secondary effect - roll
● AILERONS - roll around the
longitudinal axis
○ Secondary effect -
yaw
● ELEVATORS – pitch up and
down around the lateral
axis
○ No Secondary effect
SPEED OF AIRSTREAM

LOW SPEED HIGH SPEED

At low airspeeds, typically with a At high airspeeds, typically with a


high nose attitude, the low nose attitude, the controls
controls are easy to move, are harder to move, very
are less effective, and require effective and require only
large movements to bring small movements to bring
about a change of flight path. about a change of flight path.
They feel sloppy. They feel firm
To conclude
airstream
The more the speed, more is the dynamic pressure hitting the
controls hence lesser the input we need to put the output
required and vise versa.
Just controlling the airspeed we control the airstream hitting
our control surfaces which results influencing the amount
of input we put it.
SLIPSTREAM
PROPELLER
SLIPSTREAM
As airflow flows around the
propeller flows around the
fuselage it places assymetric
flows on the slipstream
Asymmetric: Having parts or
aspects which are not equal
In most light airplanes the
propeller spins clock-wise
from the pilots view
That spinning creates a stream
of air from the propeller to the
rear of the fuselage EFFECT OF
Because the air is already
spinning, it spirals around the PROPELLER
fuselage and is blocked at
points by the SLIPSTREAM
wings and fuselage
The result is a force on the
vertical stabiliser which
pushes the tail to the right
Effect of slipstream at higher
power settings
This effect is most noticeable at higher
power settings and at lower airspeeds -
such as at the start of the take-off run
Because the propeller is spinning it creates
a torque force especially at higher power
settings If you've ever held a bicycle wheel
in your hands and spun it you can feel the
torque as it spins You can feel the bicycle
wheel trying to spin in another direction
Because of the direction of the propeller
spin, the torque effect will move the airplane
in the opposite direction The torque effect
will move the wing of the plane down on the
left side, creating a roll
As air flows from the propellor
over the tail it makes the
rudder and
elevator more effective

One more point on slipstream:


The slipstream follows the
airflow of the propeller. It
stays close to the fuselage
and doesn't affect the
ailerons much, or at all
And so the rudder and the
elevator become much more
effective at low airspeed
than the ailerons
Slipstream causes
During a CLIMB & TAKEOFF Yaw
left (because of high thrust and
high slipstream) RIGHT RUDDER IS
REQUIRED

◦ During a LEVEL segment No


yaw (Fixed rudder trim)

◦ During a DESCENT Yaw right (No


thrust and trim is fixed for cruise)
LEFT RUDDER IS REQUIRED
Spiral slipstream effect can be reduced by:

o the use of contra or counter-


rotating propellers.

o a small fixed tab on the rudder.

o the engine thrust line inclined


slightly to the right.

o offsetting the fin slightly.


To conclude slipstream
● Spiral Slipstream Effect
● As the propeller rotates it produces a backward flow of air, or
slipstream, which rotates around the aircraft. This spiral slipstream
causes a change in airflow around the fin (vertical stabilizer). Due to the
direction of propeller rotation (clockwise) the spiral slipstream meets
the fin at an angle from the left, producing a sideways force on the fin to
the right.
● Spiral slipstream effect gives the aircraft a yawing moment to the left.
● The amount of rotation given to the air will depend on the throttle and
RPM setting
THANK YOU

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