Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
165
The Aeroplane Speaks. Fifth Edition
·
H. Barber
87
The
gyroscopic
action
of
a
rotary
engine
will
affect
the
longitudinal
stability
when
an
aeroplane
is
turned
to
right
or
left.
In
the
case
of
a
Gnome
engine,
fitted
to
a
"pusher"
aeroplane,
such
gyroscopic
action
will
tend
to
depress
the
nose
of
the
aeroplane
when
it
is
turned
to
the
left,
and
to
elevate
it
when
it
is
turned
to
the
right.
When
fitted
to
a
"tractor"
aeroplane,
the
engine
is
reversed
so
that
a
reverse
condition
results.
In
modern
aeroplanes
this
tendency
is
not
sufficiently
important
to
bother
about,
except
in
the
matter
of
spiral
descents
(see
section
headed
"Spinning").
In
the
old
days
of
crudely
designed
and
under-powered
"pusher"
aeroplanes
this
gyroscopic
action
was
very
marked,
and
led
the
majority
of
pilots
to
dislike
turning
an
aeroplane
to
the
right,
since,
in
doing
so,
there
was
some
danger
of
"stalling."
LATERAL
STABILITY
is
far
more
difficult
for
the
designer
to
secure
than
is
longitudinal
or
directional
stability.
Some
degree
of
lateral
stability
may
be
secured
by
means
of
the
"lateral
dihedral,"
i.e.,
the
upward
inclination
of
the
surface
towards
its
wing-tips
thus:
Imagine
the
top
=V=,
illustrated
opposite,
to
be
the
front
view
of
a
surface
flying
towards
you.
The
horizontal
equivalent
(H.E.)
of
the
left
wing
is
the
same
as
that
of
the
right
wing.
Therefore,
the
lift
of
one
wing
is
equal
to
the
lift
of
the
other,
and
the
weight,
being
situated
always
in
the
centre,
is
balanced.
If
some
movement
of
the
air
causes
the
surface
to
tilt
sideways,
as
in
the
lower
illustration,
then
you
will
note
that
the
H.E.
of
the
left
wing
increases,
and
the
H.E.
of
the
right
wing
decreases.
The
left
wing
then,
having
the
greatest
lift,
rises;
and
the
surface
assumes
its
first
and
normal
position.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
