Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

2 Answers

function of fixed tab

Asked by: 8765 views Aerodynamics, General Aviation, Student Pilot

Hello everyone,

What is the role of fixed tab? For example i have seen small tabs on the wings or ailerons of an aircraft. Recently i saw a single propeller aircraft having a fixed tab on its starboard aileron. It was attached at the trailing edge of the aileron. i asked instucter there but his answer was not convincing. the propeller of that aircraft rotates clockwise as seen from the cockpit. Please anyone put some light whether it has some thing with stability or something else. 

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

2 Answers



  1. John D. Collins on Jul 28, 2012

    Most fixed tabs are to fine tune the trim the aircraft usually in cruise. They are typically riveted onto the rear of a control surface such as the aileron or rudder and are bent by hand to adjust the neutral point for the control.  For example if the right aileron has a tab, but the aircraft has a tendency to fly with a heavy right wing, you can bend the tab up, which will tend to force the aileron’s neutral point down, which in turn will lift the wing.

    +3 Votes Thumb up 4 Votes Thumb down 1 Votes



  2. Lucas on Jul 30, 2012

    John is 100% correct, but I would avoid touching the tab unless you are sure of what you are doing. In most cases it is probably better to have a mechanic adjust it for you. I doubt they will charge you for it.
     
    Cheers Lucas

    -1 Votes Thumb up 2 Votes Thumb down 3 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.