SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:11 pm Post subject: Turbulence and spoilers

Why do we need to use spoilers in severe turbalance - basically why do we need to slow down for turbulance?

Note from ID: This was orginally called "SPOILERS!"

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 2:34 pm Post subject:

Here's a question for you, are you a real pilot?

Here's the answer to your question:

Spoilers are used for fighting turbulence in gliders. So as you hopefully know, when approacing a runway with a glider, you approach high, and fast, because there are no engines to help you if you drop too low. When flying fast, there is much greater influence of wind on the aircraft, and more turbulence. So in order to shake off the turbulence you fly high, and then dive to the runway, soooo you gain speed. And have the turbulence on your back. Then you can either fly level to loose speed, which isn't good, as you already are close to the field or climb, which is also not good, and the higher you go, the more turbulence you have. So basicaly toy haven't done anything. But if you use spoilers when diving, you will decend rather fast, and will not gain speed.

Another way of landing a glider is called a slip. Basicaly it is a rather hard maneuvar, means rudder one side, and ailerons the other, so it causes a drop in altitude withought an increase in airspeed.

Hope this helps,

Maxell

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 5:19 pm Post subject:

@Maxell, that was impossible to understand and seemed to contradict itself. Consider editing it to make it understandable.

The answer is that planes have structural limits. That is to say, if a plane flies too fast, or exceeds "G" limits, the plane will be damaged. Turbulence can damage planes by both of these methods. Turbulence is disturbances in the air which causes the plane to bump, bouce or otherwise give the passengers some excitement. Gusty wind could be considered turbulence. If you are flying along at 150 and your max speed is 180, and you hit a 30 mph increase in airspeed (the technical term for this is windshear) , you are going to do two things. A: You are going to redline the airspeed, and B: the plane is going to start climbing, which will cause the G forces acting on a plane to change. There are also updrafts and down drafts which will cause the G forces to change.

When you slow down, the plane is more able to handle abrupt changes in attitude, lift, and airspeed. In a way, its like slowing down when going over a speed bump: going to fast is not good for your car.

Spoilers are used, along with airbrakes, speed brakes, etc, to slow the plane down. Of course, you can always reduce the throttle and you will get the same result. Using the speedbrakes, is considered to be inefficient, of course, in a glider, some inefficiency is necessary to ensure safety. Next time you are in a airliner, notice that the thrust will be reduced before or during heavy turblence.

Here is an experiment for you. If you can, get one of those styrofoam gliders with the 4 foot wingspan. Assemble it and then hold it level. Lift it suddenly and lower it. Notice how the wings flex? That is the G forces and the air acting on the plane. Do it hard enough and you can rip the wings right off. If ever are in a convertible, or other suct open roofec vehicle, you can hold the plane level while someone else drives. If you pitch the nose up, you can see how the wings flex up and the plane wants to get away from you. If you let the plane go, it will probably be ok, but if you pitch the plane up too far, it will break apart. This "critical" angle is dependent on the speed you are traveling. [/i]

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 5:31 pm Post subject:

I would if I could Confused

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 4:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks Insured Disaster I print this out and stick it in my book

Thanks for trying Maxell but what in the world were you talking about lol !

I be posting agen I only 13 but i am a student pilot on my way to ppl !

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 6:47 pm Post subject:

Sorry pilothun, I didn't mean to confuse, I have read over my answer again and again, and can't seem to find the thing that could make it so hard to understand. Sorry Embarassed

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 1:59 pm Post subject:

Turbulence is highly uncomfortable to passengers and is best avoided in my opinion. Whilst it may be enjoyable to fly sideways through an sheer updraft it is appallingly sickening for some! Smile

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 8:39 pm Post subject:

You wouldnt drive over a speedbump at highway speeds because its really hard on the car to do that. The same goes for slowing down in turbulence. All that bouncing and buffeting is hard on the airframe. When youre travelling at those high speeds, even a slight change in the wind direction can pack quite a punch. The idea is to slow down to lessen the forces on the airframe.

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:51 pm Post subject:

Ummm

wind shear isnt a 30mph gust
thats called a gust

shear is a sudden and local change in wind direction and intensity

the wind shear decting tools are on the ground and are usually placed at the corners of the field
if a change in direction from one side to the other is more than 30degrees it is considered sheer (if total wind is more than 15kts)

gusts are warned to a pilot by an alarm that says ""WIND SHEAR< WIND SHEAR" however its really a gust in most cases as there is no change in direction, just intensity