mechanism about differential spoilers
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Joined: Oct 2017
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From: hong kong
mechanism about differential spoilers
HI guys. Wanna ask for a detailed explanation about the mechanism of differential spoiler and non differential spoiler. How do them actually work? just get frustrated when i saw an expression below:
non differential spoiler:
speed brakes fully retracted:right spoiler extends
left spoiler remains retracted
speed brakes fully extended:right spoiler remains extended
left spoiler remains extended
speed brakes half extended:right spoiler extends further
left spoiler doesnt move
differential spoiler:
speed brakes fully retracted:right spoiler extends
left spoiler remains retracted
speed brakes fully extended:right spoiler remains extended
left spoiler retracts
speed brakes half extended:right spoiler extends further
left spoiler retracts
few questions about this statement:
here it was saying the difference between diff. spoiler and non-diff. spoiler is diff. spoiler retract and supplement roll control when speed brake is fully extended. however, if non-diff. spoiler doesnt contribute to roll control, why there is difference between right spoiler and left spoiler?(because of balancing P factor? I dont know just guess :P)
also why right spoiler needs to extend further when speed brake half extended?
is the situation of differential spoilers above talking about one direction roll movement or i am actually out of track?
Pls help!
i am a newbie on aviation as well as in this forum.sorry for my poor English and if i am posting it in a wrong place.
Thanks all!
non differential spoiler:
speed brakes fully retracted:right spoiler extends
left spoiler remains retracted
speed brakes fully extended:right spoiler remains extended
left spoiler remains extended
speed brakes half extended:right spoiler extends further
left spoiler doesnt move
differential spoiler:
speed brakes fully retracted:right spoiler extends
left spoiler remains retracted
speed brakes fully extended:right spoiler remains extended
left spoiler retracts
speed brakes half extended:right spoiler extends further
left spoiler retracts
few questions about this statement:
here it was saying the difference between diff. spoiler and non-diff. spoiler is diff. spoiler retract and supplement roll control when speed brake is fully extended. however, if non-diff. spoiler doesnt contribute to roll control, why there is difference between right spoiler and left spoiler?(because of balancing P factor? I dont know just guess :P)
also why right spoiler needs to extend further when speed brake half extended?
is the situation of differential spoilers above talking about one direction roll movement or i am actually out of track?
Pls help!
i am a newbie on aviation as well as in this forum.sorry for my poor English and if i am posting it in a wrong place.
Thanks all!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 0
From: fairly close to the colonial capitol
The term "differential spoilers" relates to how spoilers augment the roll commanded by the ailerons during speed brake operation. This arrangement maximizes the augmentation of roll control with a small sacrifice in (commanded) profile drag braking.
"Non-differential" spoiler arrangement will augment aileron roll control to a lesser degree during partial extension and when the speed brakes are fully extended, they offer no help.
The example you have given is for a right turn.
This is one of the key differences. See below for the rest.
Non-differential (standard) spoiler deployment contributes to roll control in all but the fully extended speed brake configuration. Another way to think about it is the non-differential spoiler arrangement never reduces profile drag during roll control augmentation.
To assist with roll control.
"Non-differential" spoiler arrangement will augment aileron roll control to a lesser degree during partial extension and when the speed brakes are fully extended, they offer no help.
The example you have given is for a right turn.
the difference between diff. spoiler and non-diff. spoiler is diff. spoiler retract and supplement roll control when speed brake is fully extended.
however, if non-diff. spoiler doesnt contribute to roll control, why there is difference between right spoiler and left spoiler?
why right spoiler needs to extend further when speed brake half extended?


Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 3,984
Likes: 568
From: Where the Quaboag River flows, USA
One of the earliest solutions to this problem was to move the ailerons inboard to a stiffer part of the wing - as first seen on the F100 super sabre.




