240 STATIC STABILITY

11.7 Propeller Slipstream

The effect caused by the slipstream of a single-engined propeller-driven aeroplane is dependent on the
direction of rotation of the propeller. The corkscrew airstream produced by the propeller will strike
one side of the fin more than the other. To counteract this effect the fin and rudder have to balance
the asymmetric airflow to prevent sideslip, which for a single-engined aeroplane is more likely in
one direction than the other. To assist in this task the fin is mounted slightly offset from the fore and aft
axis into the corkscrew airstream, thus decreasing the asymmetric influence. See Figure 16.7.

11.8 Neutral Directional Static Stability

The effect that each major component has on the overall directional static stability of an aeroplane can
be plotted graphically. Cn is the yawing moment coefficient and is shown on the left vertical axis of
Figure 11.5. The sideslip angle is shown along the horizontal axis. The highest point of each curve is the
stalling sideslip angle and is the point of neutral directional static stability; to the left of this point the
aeroplane has positive directional static stability and to the right of this point the aeroplane has directional
static instability.

NEUTRAL STABILITY
POSITIVE YAWING MOMENT COEFFICIENT

STALL

LY
ON
FIN
AL NE
O RS PLA
+D AE
RO
FIN O LE
WH

SIDESLIP ANGLE

Figure 11.5 Directional Static Stability.

11.9 Lateral Static Stability

The lateral static stability is a measure of the aeroplane’s tendency to return to the wings-level attitude
after a disturbance has caused the aeroplane to be disturbed in the rolling plane. Positive lateral static