Flight control surface authority question.

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 3K views
Strike_42
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Hey everyone,

I'm trying to figure out what formula I would use to find the authority a flight control surface (not a wing) would have when deflected. I've been searching and searching for information, but if anyone has done some similar calculations, the help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Not a simple question, as the industry still encounters problems here, even in fairly mature aircraft.
For instance, the prototype C130J was lost because of inadequate control authority in a flight test.
Plus the authority can vary depending on the air flow around the control surfaces.
So the basic calculations are just a beginning.