Abstract: An example method includes: determining a throttle command for a servomotor configured to control a position of a throttle lever, where the position of the throttle lever indicates a commanded thrust for the first engine of the aircraft; determining a trim command for the first engine to equalize the thrust of the first engine with the respective thrust of the second engine; determining that a magnitude of the throttle command is less than a magnitude of a threshold throttle command indicative of a dead zone of the servomotor, where the servomotor is irresponsive to a given throttle command within the dead zone; modifying the trim command based on the throttle command to generate a modified trim command that compensates for irresponsiveness of the servomotor to the throttle command; and changing the thrust generated by the first engine based on the modified trim command.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a shape of an outer surface of a control surface. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus comprises a control surface and a shaping system associated with the control surface. The control surface is associated with a portion of an aft edge of a wing. The control surface comprises a plurality of segments in which each of the plurality of segments comprises a number of sections. The shaping system is configured to move each segment in the plurality of segments independently of other segments in the plurality of segments to control a shape of an outer surface of the control surface.

Abstract: A flight control system for an aircraft directs a primary surface that is pivotable with respect to the aircraft with a moveable tab located at the end of the primary surface. A primary surface actuator maintains a position of the primary surface. A tab actuator moves the tab with respect to the primary flight control surface. A controller configured to coordinate the movement of the primary flight control surface with the movement of the tab by deflecting the tab with respect to the primary flight control surface, thereby allowing aerodynamic forces acting upon the deflected tab to position the primary flight control surface at a desired position. The primary flight control surface can then be maintained at the desired position by the primary surface actuator.

Abstract: A method for automatic yaw axis control in aircraft with mechanical controls, said aircraft including a yaw actuator to control orientation of a yaw control surface and deliver a measured value of the torque on the control surface, a yaw trim actuator driving movement of a yaw trim control surface limiting the force applied by the yaw actuator to orient the yaw control surface, and sensors supplying an estimate of a lateral yaw force, includes calculating a setpoint value for the position of the yaw control surface determined by the estimated lateral force, an estimated torque of the yaw actuator determined by the measured value of the torque of the yaw actuator and a measured position of the yaw control surface, the estimated torque calculated having a lower oscillation dynamic range than the measured torque, and a trim command for activating/deactivating the yaw trim actuator determined by the estimated torque.

Abstract: A trailing edge aerodynamic airfoil of a load-bearing aerodynamic surface of an aircraft of the crocodile type has two airfoil flaps, with each flap being integral in a forward section with a rotational shaft that determines the axis of rotation of the airfoil flap. In a position called the zero setting, the airfoil flaps are essentially joined and form a rear section of the load-bearing surface, and each airfoil flap is movable in translation independently of the other airfoil flap, relative to the load-bearing surface, with each flap being entrained in rotation relative to the load-bearing surface around its axis of rotation by the motion in translation. The ends of the rotational shaft have extensions guided by runners fastened to these ends and acting conjointly with racks fastened to the load-bearing surface.

Abstract: A monitoring and control device for an aircraft actuator includes a control module, delivering control signals for the actuator and position signals for the actuator determined according to control messages received from a piloting management system of the aircraft, and at least one first position sensor supplying information concerning the position of the actuator, and a monitoring module, delivering position signals for the actuator and receiving the control signals received from the piloting management system of the aircraft, and information relating to the position of the actuator supplied by at least one second position sensor. The control and monitoring modules are capable of assessing the consistency of the signals processed therein and of controlling accordingly a power supply and disabling module of the actuator.

Abstract: A longitudinal control law is designed to optimize the flying qualities when aircraft is set to approach configuration, i.e. when the flap lever is set to the landing position and landing gears are locked down. Under such circumstances, the effort of trimming the aircraft speed can be extremely reduced by the usage of a momentary on-off switch or other control in the sidestick, instead of or in addition to a conventional trim up-down switch, making easier the task of airspeed selection by the pilot. This control law provides excellent handling qualities during approach and landing, with the benefit of not needing or using radio altimeter information in safety-critical applications.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for actuating a control surface about a pivot point using variable moments. A bracket having a moment arm is coupled to the pivot point such that the bracket is rotatable about the pivot point to actuate the surface. A power actuator has a shaft coupled to the bracket at a coupling point on the moment arm such that actuation force applied to the shaft results in a moment produced about the pivot point. A linear actuator is configured to adjust the location of the coupling point with respect to the pivot point to thereby changing the moment arm and the moment produced about the pivot point as the bracket rotates. By adjusting the distance between the pivot point and the coupling point, the moments produced about the pivot point can be increased while conserving actuator power.

Abstract: A trim tab is disclosed for use on an aerodynamic foil that has first and second surfaces which extend between a leading edge and a trailing edge. Structurally, the trim tab includes a tab member that is bounded by slits formed through each surface to extend from the trailing edge toward the leading edge. Also, the tab member is bounded by a slot formed between the slits on the second surface to establish a flange between the slot and the trailing edge. Further, the trim tab includes an actuator that is mounted on the foil between the slot and the leading edge. The actuator includes an actuator arm that is connected to the flange. As a result, extension and retraction of the actuator moves the tab member about a hinge-less tab that is created on the first surface.

Abstract: Control surfaces in an aircraft attitude control configuration provide attitude control for an aircraft at hover or low air speed conditions. The aircraft attitude control configuration includes thrusters mounted to an aircraft, a first control surface kinematically coupled to the aircraft downstream of a first thruster to enable a first vector force to be generated by a portion of thrusted air from the first thruster on the first control surface, and a second control surface kinematically coupled to the aircraft of a second thruster. The control surfaces are displaced symmetrically a longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The control surfaces are independently and differentially movable with respect to each other to enable generation of a second vector force by a portion of thrusted air from the second thruster on the second control surface.

Abstract: Aircraft control surface (1), in particular for an aircraft lifting surface (2), that comprises a primary control surface (6) that comprises a hinge axis (10), and a secondary control surface (7) that comprises a hinge axis (11), with the secondary control surface (7) rotating by means of its hinge axis (11) relative to the primary control surface (6), said secondary control surface (7) only partially occupying the span of the primary control surface (6), the length of the secondary control surface (7) along its hinge axis (11) being significantly less than the length of the primary control surface (6) along its hinge axis (10), and moreover the width or chord of said secondary control surface (7) along the direction of its hinge axis (11) narrows significantly towards the tip of the lifting surface (2) according to a law of narrowing designed expressly for adapting the distribution of torsional stiffness along the span of the lifting surface (2) to the distribution of aerodynamic load thereon, whereas the di

Abstract: A flight control system for an aircraft directs a primary surface that is pivotable with respect to the aircraft with a moveable tab located at the end of the primary surface. A primary surface actuator maintains a position of the primary surface. A tab actuator moves the tab with respect to the primary flight control surface. A controller configured to coordinate the movement of the primary flight control surface with the movement of the tab by deflecting the tab with respect to the primary flight control surface, thereby allowing aerodynamic forces acting upon the deflected tab to position the primary flight control surface at a desired position. The primary flight control surface can then be maintained at the desired position by the primary surface actuator.

Abstract: A trim tab is disclosed for use on an aerodynamic foil that has first and second surfaces which extend between a leading edge and a trailing edge. Structurally, the trim tab includes a tab member that is bounded by slits formed through each surface to extend from the trailing edge toward the leading edge. Also, the tab member is bounded by a slot formed between the slits on the second surface to establish a flange between the slot and the trailing edge. Further, the trim tab includes an actuator that is mounted on the foil between the slot and the leading edge. The actuator includes an actuator arm that is connected to the flange. As a result, extension and retraction of the actuator moves the tab member about a hinge-less tab that is created on the first surface.

Abstract: A method for preventing vibration of a rudder of an aircraft may have, on a lateral aerodynamic surface of the aircraft's rudder, a protruding aerodynamic element capable of generating an aerodynamic effect tending to rotate the rudder about its articulation axis. An actuator of the rudder is controlled such that it counters the action of the protruding aerodynamic element and such that it imposes on the rudder a position of equilibrium in aerodynamic extension of the fixed vertical stabilizer.

Abstract: Process for improving the maneuverability of an aircraft during a resource. According to the invention, prior to the resource, the adjustable horizontal tailplane (2) is nose-up deflected and the elevators (4) are nose-down deflected.