{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "aileron",
 "name": "Aileron",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Aircraft design",
 "group": "Control surfaces",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How big should ailerons be?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "control surfaces",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "aileron",
  "aileron size",
  "aileron sizing rc",
  "how big should ailerons be",
  "aileron chord percentage",
  "aileron throw",
  "strip ailerons",
  "barn door ailerons",
  "aileron deflection",
  "adverse yaw"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 1,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/aileron/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/aileron/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "Ailerons on the outboard trailing edges move in opposite directions to roll the aircraft; the down-going aileron's drag yaws the nose away from the turn (adverse yaw), worst at low speed and large deflection (FAA PHAK ch.6).",
   "Sadraey's typical values: aileron area 5-10% of wing area, span 20-30% of wing span, chord 15-25% of wing chord, inboard edge at 60-80% semispan, max deflection about 30 deg, though he recommends keeping it under 25 deg to avoid aileron stall.",
   "A Cessna 182 uses 20% chord ailerons from 46% to 95% semispan with 20 deg up / 14 deg down (Sadraey Table 12.1).",
   "Used on: Cessna 182, Air Tractor AT-802, Gulfstream 200.",
   "The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above. Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value or range",
    "source"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "Sa/S",
     "0.05-0.10",
     "Sadraey ch.12"
    ],
    [
     "ba/b",
     "0.20-0.30",
     "Sadraey ch.12"
    ],
    [
     "Ca/C",
     "0.15-0.25",
     "Sadraey ch.12"
    ],
    [
     "Inboard edge bai/b",
     "0.6-0.8",
     "Sadraey ch.12"
    ],
    [
     "Max deflection",
     "~30 deg; keep < 25 deg up and down",
     "Sadraey ch.12"
    ],
    [
     "Cessna 182",
     "Ca/C 0.2, 0.46-0.95 semispan, 20/14 deg",
     "Sadraey Table 12.1"
    ],
    [
     "Reference build",
     "chord 200, 20% aileron, 300 mm long, 20 deg",
     "Sadraey ranges"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Aileron — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/aileron/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- Ailerons on the outboard trailing edges move in opposite directions to roll the aircraft; the down-going aileron's drag yaws the nose away from the turn (adverse yaw), worst at low speed and large deflection (FAA PHAK ch.6).\n- Sadraey's typical values: aileron area 5-10% of wing area, span 20-30% of wing span, chord 15-25% of wing chord, inboard edge at 60-80% semispan, max deflection about 30 deg, though he recommends keeping it under 25 deg to avoid aileron stall.\n- A Cessna 182 uses 20% chord ailerons from 46% to 95% semispan with 20 deg up / 14 deg down (Sadraey Table 12.1).\n- Used on: Cessna 182, Air Tractor AT-802, Gulfstream 200.\n- The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above. Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.\n\nparameter  value or range  source\nSa/S  0.05-0.10  Sadraey ch.12\nba/b  0.20-0.30  Sadraey ch.12\nCa/C  0.15-0.25  Sadraey ch.12\nInboard edge bai/b  0.6-0.8  Sadraey ch.12\nMax deflection  ~30 deg; keep < 25 deg up and down  Sadraey ch.12\nCessna 182  Ca/C 0.2, 0.46-0.95 semispan, 20/14 deg  Sadraey Table 12.1\nReference build  chord 200, 20% aileron, 300 mm long, 20 deg  Sadraey ranges\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- FAA: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), Ch. 6 Flight Controls — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/08_phak_ch6.pdf\n- Universidad de Sevilla course files (Sadraey, Aircraft Design, Ch. 12): Design of Control Surfaces (Aileron) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://aero.us.es/adesign/Slides/Extra/Stability/Design_Control_Surface/Chapter%2012.%20Desig%20of%20Control%20Surfaces%20%28Aileron%29.pdf\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/aileron/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=aileron\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "FAA",
   "title": "Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), Ch. 6 Flight Controls",
   "url": "https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/08_phak_ch6.pdf",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Universidad de Sevilla course files (Sadraey, Aircraft Design, Ch. 12)",
   "title": "Design of Control Surfaces (Aileron)",
   "url": "https://aero.us.es/adesign/Slides/Extra/Stability/Design_Control_Surface/Chapter%2012.%20Desig%20of%20Control%20Surfaces%20%28Aileron%29.pdf",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "frise-aileron",
  "differential-ailerons",
  "elevon",
  "flaperon",
  "spoiler",
  "trim-tab"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "How much aileron throw?",
   "a": "Sadraey suggests keeping deflection under about 25 deg to avoid aileron stall."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": {
  "name": "Xem Studio Design License",
  "holder": "Xem Studio",
  "url": "https://xemstudio.com/license/",
  "note": "Xem Studio's own design: free to use, print, modify and sell things made from it; not to be republished or redistributed as files."
 },
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "aileron-wing-segment",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/aileron/aileron-wing-segment.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/aileron/aileron-wing-segment.stl",
   "note": "aileron: wing segment 200 mm chord × 300 mm, 20 % chord surface deflected 20°"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/aileron/index.md"
}