Aileron Authority
 

Is there more airleron authority at the root of a wing or at the tip? If I want to put a short aileron or ailerons on a wing, say only half the span of the wing half, would I want them out at the tip of the wing or in at the root of the wing?

Think of it as a lever trying to tip the plane! The further out towards the tip the more leverage.If moved inboard the larger It will have to be to provide the same leverage!

Full size aircraft generally place a short aileron on the outboard part of the wing. If I use a short one I put a barn door one out to the tip.

Also, flaps are inboard which decreases any potential rolling effect they might have.

Most all modern pylon racers AMA rulebook (not warbirds) use inboard ailerons for the opposite reason because aileron throws are so small already inboard ailerons soften response even a bit more.

John

A few yrs ago we only used one ail on the pylon racers. At high speed, not much authority needed.

When you look at the war birds the ailerons are small in comparison to say an Edge or Extra 300 and they are out on the end of the wing. Air travels laterally across the wing towards the tip and that is where the greatest force is. wing shape dictates the amount of aileron needed to fly right, having a large one on some planes cause more control problems than others, the throws can be to much or to little. Look at a plane design like yours and follow suit, you should be ok.

Leroy

You want them out at the tips of the wings, but somehow protected by the tips from accidental ground contact that could strip one servo or bend a control rod.