Hello guys, proceeding my blog posts about the world of aircrafts I want to share with you this opportunity what hides behind the system of slowdown of an airplane. As I'm not a technician for this area I'll try to explain for all of you the subject using the simplest way I can. So guys, pay attention and check out all the steps of this process below.
We can think about three systems which do an airplane stops. Commercial aircrafts have basically three slowdown systems: flaps, reverse thrusters and wheel brakes. The airplane slowdown happens when these three ways of slowdown play a role together or sequentially in the landing.
1st Slowdown system: FLAPS
Flaps are structures found on the airplane wings, which stay extended about 5-10 minutes of descending, allowing the airplane decelerate before touchdown. Pilots can configurate the extend time demanded for decelerating the aircraft.
2nd Slowdown system: SPOILERS
Also called air brakes, speed brakes or simply aileron, these structures with the help of the air apply a backward force on the airplane's wings making it slow down.
3rd Slowdown system: REVERSE THRUSTERS
This tool comes in action right after the airplane's wheels touch the ground. In fact, the goal of the reverse thrusters is redirect the engine thrust to the airplane stopping. The reverse thrust changes significantly the performance of the thrust in the aircraft flight. You yourself can notice when reverse thrusters are in action. It's this moment the noise is more intense and you also can see water or dust droplets come out from the engines. It's a moment which the engines are heard and seen in a sensory experience!
4th Slowdown system: WHEEL BRAKES
This resource is applied gradually once the rear and front airplane's wheels touch on the runway. Note that, if airplanes count down just the wheel brakes for landing and decelerate, it took a bigger length of runway to stop safely, thus the aircraft stop interval would be very greater. Some airplanes have auto brakes which pilots can determine their stopping intensity for low, medium or high.
So, I hope the fans of aviation have enjoyed my particular post for today about the airplane's stopping systems. If you see some scientific mistake in my post or just want to add some suggestion, comment to enrich my post, feel at ease as for me ! After all, fans always work together to build up solid knowledge about their interests.
SEE Y'ALL!!!
Comments
Oi Daniel,
I would like to add a little bit more details about "flaps". They are, as said, a part of the airfoil structure and have many roles to play not only in landing and take off, but also in flight. Operating the flaps, the pilot can change the wing profile to increase lift or accelerate descend - but flaps also are useful in maitaining a balanced flight path in extreme situations such as cross-wind flight [when the wind is blowing sideways in relation to the aircraft longitudinal axis.] and especially when landing with cross winds or doing sharp turns without loosing hight.
I hope that what I added enriches your knowledge about aircraft flight control or as it is called - flilght techniques.
you really like airplanes daniel..:D