Secondary Flight Controls: What They Are and How They Work

In addition to the primary flight controls, which allow pilots to adjust the attitude of an aircraft in the sky, there are also several secondary flight controls that help to fine-tune the aircraft's performance. These controls include the throttle, mixture, flaps, elevator trim, and carb heat. Let's take a closer look at each of these controls and how they work.

The throttle is a lever that controls the amount of fuel being delivered to the engine. By increasing or decreasing the throttle setting, the pilot can increase or decrease the power output of the engine. This, in turn, affects the speed and altitude of the aircraft. The throttle is typically located on the left side of the cockpit and is operated with the pilot's left hand.

The mixture is a control that adjusts the ratio of fuel to air being delivered to the engine. By leaning the mixture, the pilot can adjust the fuel flow to match the amount of oxygen available at different altitudes. This helps to optimize the engine's performance and prevent it from running too rich or too lean. The mixture control is typically located on the right side of the cockpit and is operated with the pilot's right hand.

Flaps are hinged surfaces located on the trailing edge of the wings that can be extended to increase the amount of lift generated by the wings. This is useful during takeoff and landing when the aircraft needs extra lift to get off the ground or to descend at a slower rate. Flaps are typically operated with a lever or switch located in the cockpit and can be extended to various degrees depending on the desired amount of lift.

Elevator trim is a control that adjusts the position of the elevators on the tail of the aircraft. By trimming the elevators, the pilot can reduce the force required to hold the control stick in a particular position. This is useful when the aircraft is in a steady-state flight condition, such as during cruise, and the pilot wants to relieve the strain on their arms and shoulders. Elevator trim is typically operated with a wheel or lever located in the cockpit.

Carb heat is a control that is used to warm the air being drawn into the carburetor. The carburetor mixes fuel and air to be delivered to the engine. When flying in cold temperatures, the carburetor can become frosted over, which can cause the engine to run poorly or stop altogether. By activating the carb heat, the pilot can warm the air being drawn into the carburetor and prevent it from frosting over. Carb heat is typically activated with a switch located in the cockpit.

In summary, the secondary flight controls are used to fine-tune the aircraft's performance and are important to understand and properly operate. The throttle adjusts the power output of the engine, the mixture adjusts the fuel-to-air ratio, flaps increase lift, elevator trim reduces the force required to hold the control stick in a particular position, and carb heat prevents the carburetor from frosting over in cold temperatures. Knowing how to use these controls effectively is essential for safe and efficient flight.