MD-80 Ailerons

[Buzzz]

Hi everyone,

Was hoping somebody could explain something to me. Last January I was on an AA MD-80 going from DFW to EWR. As we were taxying I looked out to see the ailerons go into a full deflection which I thought was quite normal. However they stayed like this until we were on the runway. They were still deflected as we started to accelerate down the runway, and it was only the effect of the wind as we picked up speed that made them return to their normal position.

Is this normal?

Thanks

Buzzz

[India Four Two]

Yes, it is normal. I had a similar experience out of DFW a couple of years ago and thought we were about to take off with the ailerons locked. I was chastised both on the aircraft and here on pprune for making a fuss about it, but I thought we were going to crash.

If I remember correctly, it's to do with the fact that the MD-80 has servo-tab ailerons.