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AileronSizer.html v0.1.43 · 2026-09-22

Aileron Sizer

Compare JET11 aileron proportions with digitized historical guidelines, then estimate the hinge torque and actuator force required at maximum dynamic pressure.

Load a JET11 file to plot its aileron geometry.

Historical aileron sizing guidelines

The hatched band shows historical combinations of aileron chord ratio and total aileron-span ratio. Load a JET11 file to add its point.

Aileron actuator linkage diagram. Push-rod force F acts through control-horn length l1, while aerodynamic load L acts at lever arm l2, one half of the control-surface chord. F equals L times l2 divided by l1; the diagram assumes CL equals 1, L equals q times surface area, and l2 equals control-surface chord divided by two.

JET11 overlay awaiting a file.

Sub-scale Model

Scaled aileron loads and ideal servo requirements
Total Wing Area—Load a file
Wing Span—Load a file
Scaled aileron MAC—Load a file
Dynamic pressure20.9 psf1.00 kPa
Pushrod force—Load a file
Servo torque—Load a file

Geometric dimensions scale by 1/N, area by 1/N², and hinge torque by q/N³. Results assume CL = 1, perpendicular linkage, and no friction, hinge relief, or safety factor.

Equations and assumptions

US customary calculations
q = ½ ρ0 VEAS2ρ0 = 0.0023769 slug/ft³. This converts maximum dynamic pressure to sea-level equivalent airspeed.
Ssurf = (ba/2)(croot + ctip)/2One aileron is one half of the mirrored total aileron span stored by JET11.
L = q Ssurf CL,   CL = 1
ℓ2 = csurf/2,   Thinge = Lℓ2csurf is the aileron mean aerodynamic chord.
Fact = Thinge / ℓ1 = L(ℓ2/ℓ1)ℓ1 is the control-horn length. Linkage angle, friction, safety factor, hinge-moment relief, and actuator dynamics are not included.
  • The slide assumption CL = 1 is applied over the complete one-side aileron area.
  • Reported force is the ideal push-rod force with a perpendicular horn and no mechanical loss.
  • Apply structural margin and actuator rate/duty-cycle requirements separately.

Accessible guideline data

Curve coordinates are ratios

The recreated band uses the tabulated lower and upper boundaries below. The JET11 point uses aileron MAC divided by the local wing-segment MAC for chord ratio, and total aileron span divided by wing span for span ratio.

Digitized historical-band values
Aileron chord ratioLower span ratioUpper span ratio