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Aileron

How big should ailerons be? · Standard part · basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio

Also called: aileron size, aileron sizing rc, how big should ailerons be, aileron chord percentage, aileron throw, strip ailerons, barn door ailerons, aileron deflection, adverse yaw

Exact dimensions. True size, with no printing tolerance added.

sizes
7 in table

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.

Aileron size chart

parametervalue or rangesource
Sa/S0.05-0.10Sadraey ch.12
ba/b0.20-0.30Sadraey ch.12
Ca/C0.15-0.25Sadraey ch.12
Inboard edge bai/b0.6-0.8Sadraey ch.12
Max deflection~30 deg; keep < 25 deg up and downSadraey ch.12
Cessna 182Ca/C 0.2, 0.46-0.95 semispan, 20/14 degSadraey Table 12.1
Reference buildchord 200, 20% aileron, 300 mm long, 20 degSadraey ranges

Where the files are

Other publishers' files are linked, not hosted. "verify" = check the license at the link before commercial use.

FAAPilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), Ch. 6 Flight ControlswebPublisher's page; dimensions are facts
Universidad de Sevilla course files (Sadraey, Aircraft Design, Ch. 12)Design of Control Surfaces (Aileron)webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts

Free files

★ Free files 1 parts. Xem Studio design: free to use, print and sell things from; not to be republished as files. Xem Studio Design License. index.json

aileron-wing-segmentaileron: wing segment 200 mm chord × 300 mm, 20 % chord surface deflected 20°STEP · STL
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Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=aileron

Aileron, isometric render of a generated part
Render of aileron-wing-segment from the free STEP; not to scale.

Fits with

Questions

How much aileron throw?

Sadraey suggests keeping deflection under about 25 deg to avoid aileron stall.