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Trimmed Aircraft Worksheet
- An airplane has a wing lift of 30,000 lbs. which is centered
20 feet to the right of the cg. The tail lift is centered 100 feet
to the right of the cg. How much force must the tail lift supply
in order to keep the plane from rotating? Is this force upward or
downward?
- Continuing with Problem 1, suppose the lift force is located
20 feet to the left of the cg. How much force must the tail lift
supply in order to keep the plane from rotating ? Is this force
upward or downward?
(Hint: Distances measured to the right of the cg are
positive while distances to the left are negative.)
- Explain why the tail lift force is different in Problems 1 and
2 while the wing lift force is the same.
- Consider Problem 1 again. Suppose the fuel tanks become
significantly lighter after a long flight. This causes the cg to
move toward the front of the plane (to the left). Will a change in
the position of the cg of 10 feet to the left affect the
previously trimmed (balanced) airplane? (Mathematically support
your answer.)
- If the movement of the cg causes the airplane to become
unbalanced, what do you think the pilot will do to regain
balance?
- Consider Problem 2 again. Suppose the same thing that happened
in Problem 4 happens in Problem 2. Will a change in the position
of the cg of 10 feet to the left affect the previously trimmed
(balanced) airplane? (Mathematically support your answer.)