Exercise 16

Side-slipping

Aim

Definition

An aircraft is side slipping when its flight path is at an angle to the direction in which the nose of the . It is
aircraft is pointing achieved by the application of cross-controls during a straight glide or in a gliding turn.

Forces Acting on an Aircraft

Because of the boundary becoming turbulent on the top surface of the wing, caused by the altering in the
direction of the relative air flow, there is a large reduction in the lift vector. Thrust is also reduced by virtue
of reducing the throttle.
Weight and drag both remain the same as in straight and level flight.

The Effects of:

Wind: If a side slid is done down wind a cross wind could aid in the side slipping. Side slipping into the
wind the wind will tend to weather cock the aircraft into the wind, thus aileron and ruder will have
to be utilised to maintain the side slip.

Flaps: The down wash over the elevator and rudder will be turbulent thus reduces there effectiveness.

Instrument Errors

During a side slip to wards the pitot tube it will be placed in a local low pressure area and it will be
misaligned with the relative airflow. Thus resulting in the airspeed indicator under reading and vice versa. It
effects the static port in the same manner.