If an airplane settles into a new position after elevator control is released, it displays what type of stability?

If an airplane settles into a new position after elevator control is released, it displays what type of stability?

• A. Neutral longitudinal static stability
• B. Positive longitudinal static stability
• C. Neutral longitudinal dynamic stability
• D. Unstable longitudinal stability

Answer: (A)

When an airplane settles into a new position after elevator control is released, it demonstrates neutral longitudinal static stability. This means that if the aircraft is disturbed from its equilibrium position, it will neither return to that position nor deviate further away; instead, it remains at the new angle of attack. In neutral static stability, the aircraft maintains a new attitude without significant feedback to revert to the original position. This contrasts with positive static stability, where a disturbance would cause the aircraft to return to its original position, and negative stability, where the aircraft would move further away from its initial position after a disturbance. Understanding this concept is essential for identifying how an aircraft behaves under various conditions and how it may respond to control inputs or external factors affecting its flight path.

When an airplane settles into a new position after elevator control is released, it demonstrates neutral longitudinal static stability. This means that if the aircraft is disturbed from its equilibrium position, it will neither return to that position nor deviate further away; instead, it remains at the new angle of attack.

In neutral static stability, the aircraft maintains a new attitude without significant feedback to revert to the original position. This contrasts with positive static stability, where a disturbance would cause the aircraft to return to its original position, and negative stability, where the aircraft would move further away from its initial position after a disturbance.

Understanding this concept is essential for identifying how an aircraft behaves under various conditions and how it may respond to control inputs or external factors affecting its flight path.