SHS3 Aviation And Aerospace Engineering · Semester 1 Week 4: Aircraft Structures and Control

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: 3.1.3.LI.1 - Describe the flight controls (and control surfaces) of a fixed-wing aircraft.

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Name and locate the primary flight control surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft: ailerons, elevators, and rudder.
Explain the function of each primary control surface in terms of the axis of rotation it controls (roll, pitch, and yaw).
Describe the role of secondary control surfaces, including flaps, slats, spoilers, and trim tabs, in supporting flight control.
Justify how the movement of a control surface changes the aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft, using reasoning at the level of strategic thinking.
Work collaboratively in mixed groups to demonstrate control surface movements using physical models or diagrams, while practising respect for diverse views and equitable participation.

This lesson builds on Weeks 1 and 2, where learners identified materials for UAV construction and evaluated types of aircraft construction. It focuses specifically on the control surfaces of fixed-wing aircraft. The controls of rotary-wing aircraft, spacecraft, and fly-by-wire versus mechanical systems are reserved for later weeks (Weeks 5, 6, and 7 respectively), so this lesson does not cover those topics.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Core Concepts in Aerospace Engineering (Strand 1)
Sub-strand: Aircraft Structures and Control (1.3)
Content standard: 3.1.3.CS.2 - Demonstrate understanding of how an aerospace vehicle (aircraft, spacecraft) is controlled in flight. 3.1.3.LO.1 Identify the structural design of an airframe. 3.1.3.LO.2 Discuss the flight controls of aerospace vehicle and its impact on the movement of the vehicle. 3.1.3.LO.3 Explain the concepts of static dynamic stability of aerospace vehicles.
Indicator: 3.1.3.LI.1 - Describe the flight controls (and control surfaces) of a fixed-wing aircraft.
Suggested placement: Semester 1, Week 4 (Week 4 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Curriculum reference: NaCCA curriculum document, p. 94

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

Talk for Learning: With the aid of audio-visuals, learners watch and describe the control mechanisms for fixed-wing aircraft
Teaching and Learning Resources:
- Audio-visuals on how fixed-wing aircraft are controlled
- Audio-visuals on how rotary wing aircraft are controlled
- Flip board paper/A4 sheets
- Audio-visuals on how spacecraft
- are controlled
Assessment (3.1.3.AS.1). The document marks these depth-of-knowledge levels for this indicator: Level 3 Strategic reasoning.