RCU Forums - View Single Post - what is aileron flutter?
View Single Post
Old 09-19-2010 | 07:50 PM
  #6  
Charlie P.'s Avatar
Charlie P.
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,117
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
From: Port Crane, NY
Default RE: what is aileron flutter?

Google up "aeroelastic flutter".  The cause is the center of lift ahead or the center of gravity on a control surface.  The solution is to lighten the trailing edge ("back to the drawing board") or add weight at or ahead of the leading edge.  You'll see full-size planes with weights on the end of struts or with small surfaces out on the ailerons called "spades" that have a flutter-reducing effect. 

Many full size aircraft have an internal weight attached to a control surface that goes into the wing or fixed empennange to reduce flutter without being visible (or adding drag) outside of the plane.  That does limit the throw available