How aircraft flaps work

[@cmtedan]

Absolutelly impressive, Mr. RC! I am also an aviation teacher here in Brazil and you Sir will be my inspiration! Great class!

[@cencalmatt]

As a licensed flight instructor (and rc modler) I must say, great video. You clearly have a good understanding of flight characteristics and can demonstrate/explain it very well. More of these kinds of videos would kick ass. Ok bye.

[@manaoharsam4211]

You did a fantastic job. Explained two reasons for lift, and drag component of flaps. Score of 100 out 100. Need teachers like you.

[@brotherblonde]

Excellent explanation! I was also a Grade 1 instructor and now I'm a B767 captain. A point of interest, the advanced flaps such as Fowlers, and leading edge slats, also increase the surface area of the wing and so increase the lift

[@lucyotuoma4394]

Am excited to hear that you are a captain

[@engineerahmed7248]

Totally spot on ... For advanced learners l'd like to add ... Flaps change wing camber & above all wing chord. Meaning increasing angle of attack (AOA) by some 5 degrees despite plane staying in same orientation. Plus control surfaces lose authority at slow speeds &n controls feel mushy

[@daviddavids2884]

since the presentation begin with a FLAWED visual aid, 'spot on' is not what i would Call it.

[@I3attleFieldHero]

I don't hobbie in RC aircraft but this is obviously applicable to full sized aircraft. Very clear and concise video with a great host. Thanks very much!

[@readymarkgaming2004]

I hope my teacher in aviation when I grow up will be like you, you're really good and I got the lesson fast!

[@DemoVideosDieCutting]

Easily best teacher I've ever seen.. been in school for a long time.

[@FL_Engineer]

How did I miss the Newtonian component all these years? It was right in front of me but I never had someone explain it so well.

[@keithhudspith5245]

Its ok, you're not the only one.

[@engineerahmed7248]

SYMMETRIC AIRFOILS & FLAT PLATE AIRFOILS work on ONLY NEWTONIAN LIFT PRINCIPLE ..NO FANCY BERNOULLI LIFT

[@lambertodgr8]

Having only taken up flying on retirement at age 75 I have a lot to learn .your videos put things simply so that my senile brain can understand .

[@LLH7202]

If you think about it, a propeller is nothing more than a rotating wing. It produces lift to create thrust. Bernoulli says that the low pressure area ahead of the prop sucks the plane forward to produce thrust. Newton says the the air is accelerated backward to produce thrust in the same way a jet engine does. Which is true? Both.

[@senseisecurityschool9337]

The Newtonian component as described around 5:18 violates the law of causality. The theory is that because the air molecule goes down AFTER passing by the wing, it ... goes back in time and pushes up on the wing? That has cause and effect backwards. An air molecule going down AFTER the plane has already gone by can't push on the wing. The lift applied to the wing has to cause the air molecule to be directed downward later. Simply because a cause always happens BEFORE the effect. So the two components are the Bernoulli portion and the AoA portion. Anything that happens later, AFTER the air has passed the wing, has to be an effect, not a cause. Folks fall into the "air goes down afterwards" mistake when they realize that the Bernoulli component can't be the only component - some planes can fly inverted. There's no need to fall into that though - you can recognize that inverted flight requires AoA. It requires that the air be forced down WHILE in contact with the wing, because the wing is angled, because the wing is positioned as a wedge while in inverted flight.

[@nocare8529]

lastly im glad you are making these videos. I am also glad they are simple as most people wont care about the higher complexity stuff. Just try and do a little refresher research to make sure the simplification is not misleading

[@kenbarnett8189]

Well said, your center of gravity comparison was very enlightening, thank you.

[@Ritefita]

yes! Then why didn't he said about planes with a wings AT the center of mass? Do they exist?

[@marialauragalvez5011]

Grade 6 student here. I was extremely confused by this topic, thank goodness I came across your channel!

[@cliftondalezirkleii8670]

Bruce you gave a great presentation today on flaps. I had read an article last weekend about flaps and your pictorial explanation helped my understanding even more. Great job!

[@konturger]

A BIG BIG BIG THUMB UP !!! - I really enjoy your videos, as a X-Plane Sim Pilot, and real life Skydiver with over 200Jumps, this is total perfectly brought to the point. Will be watching your videos in future! Keep things going on, like this! Cheers from Germany.

[@MyTechWebTV]

Simply excellent Bruce! I enjoyed this very much. I just don't see how anyone could give this a thumbs down. Free and accurate information presented well. Probably five of the "Old Sore Heads" just pouting.

[@NaCN]

I'm a beginner and this video helped me a lot. It's perfect for people like me.

[@jakehart123]

Fantastic Explanation! I am a multiengine and instrument rated private pilot and I have never heard such an in depth explanation about flaps before even though I have gone through years of study. Great job! Keep the videos coming. Jake from the USA.

[@jimbo57109]

more please Bruce as a newbie found it interesting and informative and for a man of more advanced years and into this hobby for the first time

[@GBLynden]

I know this is not a new video, but I found it very helpful to confirm what I had already suspected. Thank you Bruce!

[@radimollov4562]

Sir, perfect explanation. I am starting my training in half a year from now and I am glad i found Your content. Hope you are doing well!

[@cayrick]

We are not asking for a physics dissertation here but an understanding that works. Your explanation gets the point across very well. Let the egg heads prepare a complex video with angle of attack and other variables that will put viewers to sleep. This certainly helped me to understand the concepts he was trying to convey and I thank him for it.

[@Poop-nu1so]

Semih Tok

[@jacobghansah2527]

You teach like you invented aeroplane. I will like to make you my mentor. Great job done.

[@kennetheaton3663]

I knew very little about how flaps and how other items on an airplane worked but this presentation was very very good and understandable to me.

[@RoyMcAvoy]

Thank you. I learned new things today. I've always know how wing works with Bernoulli principle but for the Newton principles, it's the first time for. Very precise and clear explanation. Thank you again for this great video.

[@brandonmuffoletto3032]

Super helpful, as an aspiring aviation simulator and someone going for my PPL license I greatly appreciated this.

[@rp4489]

Your real good teacher thanks.

[@springbok4015]

Dave Flysitall he needs better teachers

[@orlandomeister2742]

@@grizzmcsammiches6136 is

[@crewe99]

*You’re a and you’re welcome 😉

[@noeorbase1133]

best

[@richardquinones5598]

now i am learning more then i thought, which was nothing. great videos. love them

[@SquawkVFR1981]

Fantastic video!!!! Well done! Greetings from a student pilot from Germany!

[@ricardopr54]

Disregard my last comment. It wasn't your video but my computer. I tried again and it worked really good and was able to watch your video. Thanks for taking your time to share your knowledge with your subscribers.

[@stinger6470]

I've been confused by how flaps work on planes,finally got an answer after 2 years of looking

[@twonkit]

i now understand flaps ,thanks to you , keep up the very good work you do sir , all the very best .

[@bl4ck0ut22]

Just started working at an aerospace company. First day was deburring clutch plates for these flaps. So awesome.

[@BKD70]

Aaron, The change in airflow over the horizontal stabilizer (HS) with flaps deployment is the largest determinant of how the airplane will react. An airplane with a HS that is lower than the wing will generally have a nose up tendency, where an airplane with a HS that is higher than the wing will generally have a nose down pitching tendency.

[@Spyblox007]

I'm trying to build a plane in ksp, and this really helped. I had no clue what flaps were for, or even what direction to angle them before watching this video.

[@steelydanfan100]

Great video, I am just getting back into model airplanes and my Dynam Hawksky 4 CH motor glider needs flaperons, it glides so well, I need an acre and a half just to land ! Your whiteboard and ability to hold 4 colored markers while talking and drawing is remarkable. I know I needed flaps, I can now explain why to someone else, that is the lesson learned today.

[@hamelionz]

Thank you a lot, please keep making videos of HOW IT WORKS. Cant wait till you will start explaining the electronics, please do not miss anything.

[@Trev740]

Brilliant informative video on lift theory and flaps, particularly pitch difference between low wing and high wing configurations, should be compulsory viewing for all new rc pilots.

[@tplaysbass]

Thanks for making it easy to understand for a noob to rc planes!

[@TilmanBaumann]

I appreciate that you at least mention that the Bernulli effect as a explanation of why air-planes fly is at least disputed. The Newtonian explanation makes so much more sense and I'm convinced it is responsible for the majority of the lift created.

[@youknowwhatithink]

You did a great job explaining everything. Thank you soo much for simplifying aerodynamics

[@1959ABF]

Mate...loved your presentation and it was so very helpful. Have always wondered the importance of flaps and you have explained it simply and easy to understand. Hat off to you and will be watching many more of your vids.. GREAT WORK...

[@damienlim8082]

Perfect teaching for me. Is simple to understand! Thanks young man!

[@happygolily]

Really clear explanation of flaps - I have a much better understanding now, thank you!!

[@pjwlk]

Outstanding as usual! I'm grateful for your efforts - thanks so much. BTW, is there a way one can set up an AoA system for FPV using air speed sensors or something? Cheers!

[@Acula33RC]

Great video. You make it all seem very easy to understand. Thank you

[@spot2be]

Hi Bruce, Wasn't sure I'd learn anything, but I like your vids and decided to watch the new 'teaching' segment. I never thought about position of the wing and center of gravity and resulting pitch when flaps are deployed. So I did learn something. Thank you.

[@fergrn]

simple yet concise. much better understanding now thanks

[@MaruMalu1]

you are better than my own aircraft instructor explanation ...thank you teacher

[@LincolnshireRose]

Excellent introduction to lift and flaps Bruce. Well done. yes, I know that there are assumptions and a few people are pointing those bits out. BUT you are doing a basic introduction. And that is the point. Clear, concise and fun. Congratulations and all the best, Lincolnshire Rose.

[@Cess182sn]

This video is more than adequate to help people understand flap use.

[@paulsnapp8674]

Mostly correct but not entirely. As an ATP, Flight Instructor and RC pilot I have never had an aircraft need up elevator when deploying flaps. Theory on a white board is technically correct, but the amount of lift generated on either a high or low wing has more effect than the drag portrayed in this presentation behind the flaps. In both instances, in real flight, the aircraft with rise and need down trim to counter it.

[@49richard]

Thank you!! It is going to help me use my flaps on my Challenger, your explanation is very easy to understand.

[@jwkong]

amazing... its been a while but you had been teaching and explaining RC plane to us. Good job and thank you for the hard effort.

[@DronemanfromNepal]

hi , bruce just my idea , i had always understood deploying flaps increases the area of wing , and as lift equation suggests increasing the area of wing increases the lift of an a/c.

[@FPVREVIEWS]

great job, bruce. obviously, there is more to it, but that was the best overall explanation i've heard in a long time. would love more on coanda, though. thanks for all you do!

[@WingTipAerialFilming]

Great explanation Bruce, particularly since you spoke about the Newtonian part of it. The explanations I used to read as a kid really confused me as they made out that lift is only created by a wing with an airfoil shape, but I had model aircraft with no airfoil's or symmetrical airfoil's (control liners). When I studied engineering I learned that the Bernoulli effect is basically a statement of the law of conservation of energy.

[@hovis1954]

Another great video. Clear explanation. I won't need to look anywhere else, I think I've got it. Thanks for taking the time.

[@Ahblair4]

Great video. I learned that I had the wrong idea about flap deployment, but now I got the idea. Thanks!

[@nazaharin]

Loud & very clear explanation. Thank you for sharing..

[@DaninVA]

Another great video! Making a complex topic easy to understand.

[@davemcgoldricksr]

14:57 excellent just what I was looking for to understand flaps thank you

[@Jimgoodwin846]

You sir are a fine instructor! I like both of your channels.

[@themajik1]

Bruce, thanks! I have been trying to figure out why my hurricane would pitch nose down when I deployed the flaps! Now I know what I need to do to get the plane to fly when using them. Great vid as always!!!

[@raffman4266]

You're the best my friend! We are learning so much from you!

[@ficosk8]

I love this theory and praxis explanations! It´s like going again to school or university :D

[@2750nav]

Sir, pls more of such theories videos !!! This was really helpful !! we want more of "THEORY TUESDAYS"

[@JERRYinCHS]

Brilliant lecture. Although you're intended audience is models it's the same for the full scale. It's helpful to visualize the effective chordline- from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the flap be it up or fully extended. The plane with full flaps will stall at a lower speed (assuming 1G level) but at a lower AoA than clean (the effective chordline is steeper due to the lower trailing edge). The same concept applies with slats- the effective chordline drops with the leading edge of the slats as well as the trailing edge of the extended flap. In jets with slats only extended, you'll be able to fly more slowly but your stall will be at a higher AoA, again the effective chordline is reduced with the lower leading edge. Usually you take off and land with both extended so it's close to the clean AoA. Also, I used to fly the Piper Aztec. When you extended the flaps there was a very pronounced pitch up (unlike other low wings). I was told that was the result of increased downwash over the horizontal stab. Lastly, I spent many years flying the C-141, a high wing heavy four engine jet transport. It too had a dramatic pith-up during flap extension (it had no slats). The rule was 4 4's- as the flaps went through 40%, make four long nose down trim pushes, lower the pitch 4 degrees, and push the power up to 4,000lbs/hr. Thanks for your effort. Cheers!

[@scottmccurley2743]

Bruce, Very well done. I really appreciate your knowledge of the science of flying rc planes. I am very interested in what makes our planes fly and why. You have done a really good job in explaining and breaking it down for us simple minded people to understand. I would like to see a video on the differences of pusher and puller motor ? props and there benefits and down sides. Thanks again and keep up the good work!!! Scott

[@oswaldpereira6441]

Briliant. I was struggling with the concept of centre of gravity and that added it all up.

[@elvenbeatz8239]

Me too bro

[@TheRoggan123]

I thought I had a pretty good understanding of flaps before but this did widen my understanding, thank you! :)

[@wordreet]

I learned a lot from Mr Bernoulli when I started messing with carburettors 40 years ago, and more when I began making and flying kites from about 25 years ago. So I'm only too happy to recognize him as one of the family along with my best friend Albert E. They both solve the airplane on the conveyor belt question.

[@marcelstanford430]

As a fixed wing private pilot I knew there were 2 kinds of lift but only the name of the Bernouli lift. I always called the other one "deflection lift" when the flaps were down. The best way to demonstrate both is to take a narrow strip of paper and hold it in front of your mouth. Blowing across the top of the paper gives you Bernouli Lift and blowing below the paper gives you Newtonian Lift. A clean wing is all Bernouli Lift and as you add flap you get less of that and more Newtonian Lift with more drag and therefore slower speed / lower stall speed for landing.

[@philipkingsnorth]

Great video. Nice and simple explanation and I've gains a better understanding than I had.

[@davidr5343]

Thanks Bruce! You are just an amazing asset to this hobby.

[@ThomasHarvey1945]

I'm 68 years old and new to fixed wing rc flying and had a general idea of these principles, but your video made it a whole lot clearer to me. I'm learning on an Apprentice S 15e and I'm wondering if they make rc planes where the ailerons also function like flaps? That is, both right and left ailerons move down at the same time to create lift? I hope that's not a dumb question as I'm a Noob!

[@2lordst]

Really well done. Here's one for you to consider covering. When I did a brushless upgrade to my HZ Super Cub I noticed that the new engine mounting bracket (purchased from the HZ upgrade site) added more thrust angle. I've always wondered why the brushless required a more extreme thrust angle than the stock brushed motor. Maybe just a simple overview of thrust angle would do the trick? Anyway, just a thought. I loved this one!

[@nielskistrup8231]

Excellent explanation on what flaps are good for. Don't own an R/C aircraft, but practicing w. the E-flite EC-1500 (which has a 3-position flap setting). Applying what you taught me, is leading to much smoother landings.

[@gasmansnow]

Thanks Bruce. I'm 56 and new to this that was great.

[@noeleaton3812]

Great video as always, maybe an explanation of difference between 20 degree flap for more lift to help take off and 20 + degrees to give more drag for landings, As stated flaps have 2 main effects they create extra lift and also extra drag, up to 20 degrees (approx) the extra lift component is greater therefor assisting with take off, at more than 20 degrees the drag component becomes greater there for helping to slow the aircraft down and help with landings , This is why many aircraft have multiple or variable flap settings for different stages of the flight

[@mattfield3371]

I think what confuses most people about it is the extra drag but more lift concept...it's a bit counter-intuitive, under normal conditions most people think less drag, more lift but with flaps it is the opposite.

[@mattfield3371]

I also noticed something else, while this helps with the glide slope and air speed, the pitching effect on the aircraft and lift properties while landing are probably actually quite desired for a pilot who wants to make the landing as smooth as possible...if it has a tendency to nose-up the aircraft then that is perfect for bringing the rear wheels down first.

[@kadmow]

In general Aeroplanes with a CL above CG (vertically), the flaps do pitch the AC nose up (with no pilot input) due to the high centre of induced drag, but for descent to landing it increases comfort and visibility by allowing more lift at a lower nose attitude, ie. ie less radical for the passengers, the roundout is up to the pilot and the length of runway available.

[@dmitriykozmin3091]

Sir! this is an amazing explanation! Thank you for your work!

[@benmartz3405]

Thanks for the video. I always learn something new watching them.

[@turboromy]

Wait a minute. I thought extra lift with a flap generates extra lift behind a CG and that causes pitching down moment. I am an inactive full scale pilot and I believe I had to trim up as flaps go down whether it was a low wing Piper or high wing Cessna. Quickly tried MSFS. C172 definitely gives huge pitch up. Mooney showed minimal change, and Learjet gives huge pitch down. I always use flaps as it costs nothing extra, and 3D planes pitch up because those big control surfaces adds extra lift in front of CG is how I've been understanding it.

[@kevindodds8221]

Thanks so much for your video. I was having a discussion with my three sons about the effect of flaps on aircraft and your video explains it very nicely in plain English that even my 9 year old should be able to follow. Cheers Kev

[@GhostRyderFPV]

Bruce, seems your efforts towards the filming studio are paying off. Video looks great, lighting is consistent and very natural, well worth the money! Thanks for Theory Thursday, great idea! Would it be possible to have an episode dedicated to wave propagation at different frequencies through different mediums? There's lots of discussion around 900mhz, 1.2ghz, 2.4ghz, and 5.8ghz, harmonics, doubling, etc. I've tried and tried to discuss the theory with mates, but I don't think I got through!

[@wendtb]

Fantastic new segment. Great explanation.

[@shoestring405]

Well done Bruce. I enjoyed this presentation. I am looking forward to technical Tuesday or theory Thursday I think the new studio will be a great asset to what you're doing. I have been following your videos for quite some time. I find them both educational and entertaining. Donation to help with the studio (and my future education) on its way. Keep up the good work Bruce

[@MrNuggin]

Hi! It would be nice to see here Lilienthal's Polar Diagram, but anyway comprehensive presentation. Probably worth mentioning (or with more emphasis) - flaps are mainly drag generating devices (lift is not the main part here :). One equation to remember is quite easy in that case: Cdi (induced drag coefficient) = Cl^2 (lift coefficient squared) / Pi * AR (wing aspect ratio) Cheers!

[@razzelldazzellrc2729]

Bravo,Well done! I've noticed a greater torque roll effect when accelerating with flaps down.

[@zebzah9820]

Wish you'd been my teacher at school. Complicated theory explain easy terms. THANK YOU

[@aregorn11]

Bruce, thanks for the video, great explanation of Lift, I love reading the comments from people yelling that "you are wrong". apparently they were not listening to the beginning of the video where you told them that there is some contention about the theory you used. LOL you want to see an argument, go into any pilot chat room and get them going about lift, drag, etc... Although most will not discuss it because they know the outcome. LOL The only thing I would have done differently is I would have mentioned "angle of attack" but then again that could be used as a further video. Thank you for your work to better the knowledge available to those who are interested in the RC Flying hobby. I have watched several of your videos and have enjoyed you style of teaching. If you could, would you make one change to your page. could you place your teaching and training videos in a playlist. That would make them easier to find. Thank you Again.

[@TOURMANBOB]

Great job of explaining this in simple terms...thank you sir

[@joelee5875]

Excellent examples, especially on the above wing as compared to the lower wing craft types., Thank you.

[@defnotben]

Excellent explanation! Very clear and informative! Great teacher!

[@navigator902]

Excellent explanation does the same in my piper cub....Cheers to the white board....

[@johndue2366]

Perfect education. If all university education started with the easy understandable background as you have presented it and then moved on to the more complicated math and phys, then more students would be interested, listen and and understand. The result would be B.Sc's and M.Sc's with a better understanding of what they do. I have been there. oakey,- B.Sc.EE. since 1978

[@sea300ray]

I'm voting for "white board Wednesday". Love your videos by the way.

[@barrygiblett5823]

good stuff Bruce, and yes the Jabiru pitches up and slows down when I lower the flaps, which is gooood cos I want both on the base leg...then when you get to turn onto final nose down 70 knts all is good....60 knts over the fence and land..magic stuff.

[@screamingsavage001]

Man! Awesome video on flaps. I have watched you since I've started RC

[@garylucas6511]

I'm a Private Pilot. When I fly a Cessna 172 (high wing) and deploy flaps, i have to trim nose up because with adding flaps, the nose wants to drop and I have to maintain pull on elevator yoke to keep plane on glide slope therefore, i need to trim nose up to balance forces on yoke.

[@Observ45er]

On some craft there is up pitch and others have down pitch. Depends on several things.

[@GeorgeMartinRcScratchbuilds]

Great video very informative.Thanks.