The trailing edge of an aerodynamic surface such as a wing is its rear edge, where the airflow separated by the leading edge rejoins. Essential control surfaces are attached here to redirect the air flow and exert a controlling force by changing its momentum. Such control surfaces include ailerons on the wings for roll control, elevators on the tailplane controlling pitch and the rudder on the fin controlling yaw. Elevators and ailerons may be combined as elevons on tailless aircraft.
Other surfaces and equipment that may be attached to the trailing edge of an aircraft's wing or on its control surfaces include:
- on control surfaces:
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- trim tabs
- servo tabs
- anti-servo tabs
- other surfaces:
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- flaps
- other equipment
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- anti-shock bodies
- static dischargers
Famous quotes containing the words trailing and/or edge:
“As I came home through the woods with my string of fish, trailing my pole, it being now quite dark, I caught a glimpse of a woodchuck stealing across my path, and felt a strange thrill of savage delight, and was strongly tempted to seize and devour him raw; not that I was hungry then, except for that wildness which he represented.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“It is the star to every wand’ring bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)