Flaperon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A flaperon is a type of control surface that combines aspects of both flaps and ailerons. In addition to controlling the roll or bank of an aircraft like conventional ailerons, both flaperons can be lowered together to function much the same as a dedicated set of flaps would.
(Both ailerons could also be raised, which would give you spoilerons.)
The pilot still has separate controls for ailerons and flaps at his disposal. A mixer is used to combine the separate pilot input into this single set of control surfaces called flaperons. The use of flaperons instead of separate ailerons and flaps can reduce the weight of an aircraft. The complexity is transferred from having a double set of control surfaces (flaps & ailerons) to the mixer.
Many designs that incorporate flaperons mount the control surfaces away from the wing so as to provide undisturbed airflow at high angles of attack or low airspeeds.
Flaperons are sometimes referred to as "Junker Flaperons".
Several notable experimental aircraft use flaperons including V-22 Osprey, the Zenith STOL CH 701, the Kitfox and the RJ.03 IBIS.
[edit] References
The anatomy of an STOL Design by Chris Heintz[1]
