flaps and flaperons
 

Hi All,
I know the physical difference between seperate "flaps and ailerons",and "flaperons", but what is the difference as far as the flying aspect? Seems to me like they do the same thing?

RE: flaps and flaperons
 

The difference is subtle, but it is there - and it can easily lead to a crash.

When a wing stalls, it's like you have removed that wing from the plane. But a wing rarely completely stalls, it usually starts in one area and spreads.

If the wing stalls in the center, the plane will sink and pick up speed - usually resulting in the wing re-gaining flying speed, but if the tip stalls first, the plane falls off to that side. unfortunately, this usually happens when you are turning toward the wing that stalls. Since that wing is already low, (and you are usually landing when this occurs) when the tip stalls, the plane just falls out of the sky.

With flaps, the flaps cause the center of the wing to have greater lift (and more drag) which will cause the center of the wing to stall first.

With flapperons, the tips are in the same position, and since the tip on the inside of the turn is moving more slowly than any other part of the wing, it is most likely to stall first. The plane will be in the dirt before you can even react - and reacting wouldn't help anyway because you can't control a stalled wing.