Adverse Yaw
Adverse yaw causes the nose to swing towards the outside of a turn. If left uncorrected, it causes aerodynamic inefficiency, passenger discomfort, altitude changes and is generally poor airmanship. Fortunately, compensating for adverse yaw is easy if you understand the aerodynamic principles at work.
Lesson Notes
Adverse yaw is created when we use ailerons. The down aileron (up wing) generates more drag than the up aileron, and yaws (pulls) the airplane in that direction. Adverse yaw is especially noticeable with larger aileron input at slow speeds.
We correct for adverse yaw by applying rudder in the direction of the turn (towards the up aileron/down wing).
Flashcard Questions
What is adverse yaw?
Once we are established in the turn, do we still experience adverse yaw?
How does the amount of aileron deflection change the magnitude of adverse yaw?
How does airspeed change the magnitude of adverse yaw?
At very slow airspeeds, some airplanes are able to slowly turn right by deflecting the ailerons in a slight left turn, and vice versa. Why is this?