Airframe & flying controls

Scott Farmer

Group I BAE Systems Jetstream 41

Airframe & flying controls

BAe Jetstream 41
Airframe
Main airframe consists of main pressurised cabin with flat bulkheads at front cabin and rear cargo bay. Passenger cabin is 78in diameter. Tail plane is Aluminium Alloy. Fuselage has 7 main sections shown in figure 1.

Figure 1 - Main Airframe [2-1-2 41 manual]

Main passenger door front left of fuselage with built in stairs. Two type 3 over wing escape hatches. Baggage compartment door left side aft of pressure cabin. Type 2 emergency door at right aft of wing. Pod baggage doors.

Flying Controls
Primary control system consists of manually controlled ailerons, elevators and rudders in a conventional control column lay out. Secondary control systems are provided as aileron, elevator and rudder trim. Manual surfaces and controlled by cable and lever systems as shown on pages 34, 36 and 38 [manual]. Geared tabs are used for control of surfaces. Two separate control circuits are provided which provide safety when one fails. Gust lock systems are employed to ensure the plane is not damaged when on the ground. All tabs connected using dual rods to avoid flutter. Interconnection between control columns is fitted with break away device when engaged cannot be rectified until on the ground. Stall warning and protection is fitted in the form of stick shakers and angle of attack sensors (AOA).

Airframe & flying controls

Scott Farmer

Group I BAE Systems Jetstream 41

Stick push is also fitted for stall protection and is a hydraulic ram which physically pushes sticks forwards to prevent stall. An example of the cable and lever system is shown below in figure 2.

Figure 2 - Elevator Control Circuit [page 2-5-4 41 manual]

Autopilot servos are fitted in with the cable and lever systems.

ATR 42
Airframe
Not a lot of airframe information available. Cabin exterior diameter is 112.2ins.

Figure 3 - ATR 42 400/500 cockpit cross section [ ATR General p3 001]

Airframe & flying controls

Scott Farmer

Group I BAE Systems Jetstream 41

Rear entry door at aft left with built in staircase. Service door is located at aft left of cabin. Cargo door is located at front right. Cargo door has electronic actuator and is shown below in figure 4.

Figure 4 - Cargo Door details [atr general p3 001]

Flying Controls
Ailerons, elevators and rudder are mechanically actuated. Ailerons and elevators and servo-tab equipped. Rudder is spring-tab equipped. Wind protection provided on the ground using locking mechanism and damping. All links and cable and lever connections, connections are detailed in detailed schematics as shown in figure 5. Control columns can be separated like Jetstream 41 system.

Figure 5 - Pitch flight controls [p7/8 001 flying controls atr]

Airframe & flying controls

Scott Farmer

Group I BAE Systems Jetstream 41

A spring tab provides a flexible compensation which automatically increases with the aerodynamic loads applied on the rudder, thus ensuring a reduction of the pilots efforts when readily needed, shown in figure 6.

Figure 6 - Yaw Flight Controls [p1 001 flight controls atr]

Travel limiter is employed on the rudder to ensure that excessive travel is avoided at high speeds. Stick shaker and sticker mover devices are used for stall prevention.

Embraer 120
Airframe
General layout of the aircraft is similar to Jetstream and Saab. Passenger door is at front left. Cargo door is aft left. Emergency exits over the wings. Cross section very similar to Jetstream 41, as shown below in figure 7.

Airframe & flying controls

Scott Farmer

Group I BAE Systems Jetstream 41

Figure 7 - Cabin cross section [http://www.embraer.com/english/content/aeronaves/emb120.asp?tela=cross_section]

Flying Controls
Primary system is same as others. Ailerons and elevators are mechanically actuated. Rudder is HYDRAULICALLY actuated but can be actuated manually in case of loss of both mechanical systems. Aileron and elevator systems can be disconnected. Gust lock systems are in place. Flaps and trim are secondary controls and are hydraulically actuated (flaps). Rudder trim is hydraulically actuated. All manual controlled systems are cable and lever systems. Rudder consists of two panels arranged in tandem. Forward panel is controlled by two hydraulic systems whereas the aft panel moves relative to the forward panel. Shown in figure 8. Power Control Unit (PCU) is used to translate pedal movements into rudder deflection. Rudder incorporates an electrical control circuit which monitors two pressure switches to control movement in relation to airspeed.

Airframe & flying controls

Scott Farmer

Group I BAE Systems Jetstream 41

Figure 8 - Rudder Actuation System [embraer flight controls p4 of 18]

No mention of stall prevention, however this may be required by certification?

Saab 340
Airframe
Cabin exterior diameter is 91ins. Has a reinforced cockpit door to withstand intrusion forces. Passenger door is at front left as shown in figure 9. Cargo door is at aft left.

Airframe & flying controls

Scott Farmer

Group I BAE Systems Jetstream 41

Figure 9 - General 3 view of aircraft [Saab 340 general p2 1.11]

Not a lot of information about the general airframe.

Flying Controls
Primary flight controls consisting on elevators, ailerons and rudder. Secondary consisting of trim system and the flaps. Primary systems are conventional, manually operated rod and cable assemblies. Flaps and trim system are electronically controlled and hydraulically actuated (flaps) or electronically actuated (trim). Spring tab used for rudder, all others are geared tabs. Rudder travel limiting device is employed. Gust lock system is engaged on the ground. Control columns can be disengaged from one another using excessive force. Cannot be reengaged until aircraft is on the ground. Stick shaker and stick push are also employed for stall prevention. Control systems are almost the exact same as the Jetstream 41.