Inverted flight : Principle

Joined: Aug 1998
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 6,623
Likes: 846
From: Ex-pat Aussie in the UK
The main aerodynamic difference in inverted flight, from a pilot's perspective, is that the rudder operates in what the pilot might assume is the "wrong sense".
For a coordinated upright turn, you use right aileron and right rudder (matching inputs).
For a coordinated inverted turn, you use right aileron and left rudder (opposite inputs).
There is a good explanation of this effect in Neil Williams's book, Aerobatics.
For a coordinated upright turn, you use right aileron and right rudder (matching inputs).
For a coordinated inverted turn, you use right aileron and left rudder (opposite inputs).
There is a good explanation of this effect in Neil Williams's book, Aerobatics.



Joined: Mar 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 34
From: Long ago and far away ......
If I were conducting an interview I'd be interested to know whether the applicant could tell me under what conditions you could be flying at 5 knots IAS and NOT have a stalled wing.
But I think I know what you mean. A gentle-ish, but sustained, bunt from a vertical climb could probably still have a wing flying i.e. unstalled, and going around 5 kts ....... but it would be tricky to perform accurately, lol!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,226
Likes: 2
From: down south
My display sequence included stall turns - no speed and no buffet either - seemples.
I also included inverted turning - controls work as advertised in erect flight. Mind you, I didn't use rudder.
However, I did find that bottom rudder in a Derry turn helped the roll rate.
I also included inverted turning - controls work as advertised in erect flight. Mind you, I didn't use rudder.
However, I did find that bottom rudder in a Derry turn helped the roll rate.

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 202
From: Here and there
Originally Posted by Daniel 11000
I simply highlighted the fact that lift is generated by ‘deflection’ , therefore ‘Deflecting’ is the correct word, independently of how/ who /what deflects whatever fluid. In order to ‘lift’ , a wing must deflect – no deflection, no lift – everybody must agree on that !
Last edited by AerocatS2A; 18th September 2012 at 12:27.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525
Likes: 0
From: fl
You can fly a barn door if you choose to use it as a wing and it will fly. However not very well so they designed the wing to give more lift and efficiency by an assymetrical airfoil making it efficient and not just using barn door effect. Aerobatic airplanes usually have a symetrical airfoil so it will fly quite well either way if you wish to fly inverted.




