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Old 04-20-2008 | 06:27 AM
  #4  
da Rock
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From: Near Pfafftown NC
Default RE: Rudder question

You use the rudder to keep from destroying the airplane on takeoff. You use it to keep from stalling it on final approach.

Steering the airplane on the ground on the takeoff roll is impossible. So it's obvious you steer it on the ground with the rudder. Well, when the wheels lift away, the airplane is very often at it's most vulnerable to stall. The wing is just beginning to fly and can often be very close to a stall. If it's bumped by gusts, that pushes one wing even closer to the stall. The engine and prop are pushing with torque and p-effect and the wing is at it's weakest to fight back. Heck, it just got pushed by the gust, right.

Try to straighten out the airplane at liftoff with the ailerons and you're adding to the airplanes problems. The downgoing aileron has just added AOA to the wing that's already close to the stall AOA. And stalls are caused by excessive AOA.

Use the rudder to steer the airplane until it's safely clear of the runway on takeoffs. You'll have airplanes that live longer.

Same things are true on landings. When the airplane is close to the runway and at it's slowest, you really do not want to be trying to steer it with the ailerons.

And after all, why would you want to roll with ailerons when the wing is barely clear of a runway?