This may be rough, but it will be recognizable. A split rudder control system for an aircraft which reduces the net opening hinge moments opposing return of the split rudders to the fully closed position from small deflection angles.

: 1,841,804, 1,875,593, 1,916,475, 1,992,158, 2,045,463, and 2,166,292, all to Hall; 1,854,444 to Barnhart; 2,241,335 to Wedberg; 2,279,615 to Bugatti; and 2,412,647 to Northrop. 2-3, becomes very small, as for example approximately 10° or less, the pressure in the control cavity between the control members and the net opening hinge moment acting against closure becomes greater and greater until the control members are nearly fully closed, as for example deflections of less than about 1°-2°. 4 is a graph comparing the hinge moment coefficient of an upper control member of a conventional split rudder control system compared to the hinge moment coefficient of an upper control member of the split rudder control system of the present invention.Turning now to the drawings and, initially, to FIG.

Wing 10, as before, has an upper wing surface 14 and a lower wing surface 16 which each extend from leading edge 12 to the trailing edge. Wing 10 also has an upper wing surface 14 and a lower wing surface 16 which extend from leading edge 12 to the trailing edge. Check the Cozy MkIV and the Douglas SBD Dauntless for tried and true airbrake ideas on fast planes.The Dornier Do-217 used a tail stinger drag brake that opened into four petals like a flower. The airplane will complete a half loop.

The split rudder control system provides a smoothly faired aerodynamic protuberance on the upper surfaces of the split rudder control members adjacent to the trailing edge of the wing when the control members are in the closed position and at small deflection angles relative to the closed position. 2, upper control axis 50 is shown positioned forward of and above lower control axis 40, but may be positioned at other locations in other design configurations.Upper control member 90 has a second upper surface 94 which extends aft from second forward end 91 to second aft edge 92, and a lower opposing surface 98 having a second aft region 98A which extends forward and downward from second aft edge 92 away from second upper surface 94 and then curves toward second upper surface 94 and a second forward region 98B which extends forward to second forward end 91.Lower and upper actuators 60 and 70 are respectively secured to wing 10 and to lower and upper control members 80, 90.

Most of it uses only about a half inch of depth. Depending on the relative operation of the left and right hand pairs of such control members on the wings of the aircraft, the split rudders can function as ailerons, elevators, rudders, speedbrakes, and even flaps.In U.S. Pat. The rudder is cable controlled and provides both rudder and speed brake functions. One being that they eliminate flutter. The split rudder control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control axis is a lower control axis spaced forward of and generally parallel to said first aft edge of said lower control member in said closed position.9. The additional material required to form the upper surfaces of the control members in the manner described above is negligible, and does not significantly increase aircraft weight. The U. S. Government has a paid-up license in this invention and the right in limited circumstances to require the patent owner to license others on reasonable terms as provided for by the terms of contract number F33657-81-C-0067 awarded by the United States Air Force.This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly-assigned application Ser. Apr 02, 2002, 01:48 AM #9; Soar_dude. Irreversible controls are used on all supersonic aircraft for several reasons. This question (which is the first result for a Google search for "Split rudder aircraft", btw), talks about some of the advantages of the split rudder, including the fact that the lower rudder is smaller for finer adjustments while flying.. The split rudder would have the benefit that 100% lift would be kept available....