Spoilers

Definition

Spoilers are aerodynamic devices located on the wings or fuselage of an aircraft that disrupt the airflow to reduce lift and increase drag. They are primarily used during descent and landing phases to assist in controlling the aircraft's speed and angle of descent, ensuring safer landings. Additionally, spoilers can help enhance maneuverability by providing roll control when deployed asymmetrically.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Spoilers can be deployed fully or partially depending on the desired effect on lift and drag.
2. When spoilers are raised, they create turbulence that disrupts the smooth airflow over the wings, leading to a reduction in lift.
3. Some aircraft use spoilers as a primary means of roll control instead of or in addition to ailerons, especially at lower speeds.
4. Spoilers are critical during landing as they help to quickly reduce airspeed and assist in descending at a controlled rate.
5. They can also be used in-flight to manage speed when descending without increasing drag from other control surfaces.

Review Questions

• How do spoilers contribute to an aircraft's descent and landing strategy?
  • Spoilers play a vital role during an aircraft's descent and landing by reducing lift and increasing drag. When deployed, they disrupt the airflow over the wings, allowing the aircraft to descend more steeply without gaining excessive speed. This capability is crucial for maintaining a controlled approach to landing, making it easier for pilots to achieve safe touchdown speeds.
• Compare and contrast the functions of spoilers and ailerons in aircraft control.
  • Spoilers and ailerons serve different but complementary functions in aircraft control. While ailerons are primarily responsible for rolling the aircraft left or right, spoilers can act as additional roll control surfaces when deployed asymmetrically. Ailerons provide lift while causing a differential change in air pressure across the wings, whereas spoilers reduce lift when raised, thereby creating drag. This allows pilots to use both surfaces strategically based on the flight phase and handling requirements.
• Evaluate the impact of spoiler deployment on overall flight safety and performance during critical phases such as landing.
  • The deployment of spoilers significantly enhances flight safety and performance during critical phases like landing. By effectively managing lift and drag, spoilers enable pilots to have better control over the aircraft's descent rate and speed. This control is essential for safe landings, particularly in adverse weather conditions or crowded airspace where precise maneuvering is required. Overall, the use of spoilers contributes not only to smoother landings but also to reduced stopping distances, thus improving safety margins.

Related terms

Lift: The aerodynamic force that directly opposes the weight of an aircraft, allowing it to rise and stay airborne.

Drag: The aerodynamic resistance that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air, affecting its speed and fuel efficiency.

Ailerons: Control surfaces located on the trailing edge of wings that allow an aircraft to roll or bank left or right.