Apparatus and method for reducing aircraft loads resulting from atmospheric turbulence and gusts

A controller for reducing sideways motion of an aircraft by operation of an aircraft rudder control unit, the controller comprising:

• a. means for sensing, prior to a yawing movement of the aircraft, side forces on a vertical stabilizer on the aircraft;
• and
• b. means for generating a signal as a function of the side forces so as to command the rudder for movement in a direction which reduces the side forces and which does not reduce a sideslip angle of the aircraft;
• and
• c. means for feeding the command signal to the rudder control unit so as to cause movement of the rudder.

A method for reducing sideways motion of an aircraft by operation of an aircraft rudder, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. sensing, prior to a yawing movement of the aircraft, a sideslip angle of a vertical stabilizer on the aircraft;
• b. generating a command signal as a function of the sideslip angle so as to move the rudder in a direction which reduces the side forces and which does not reduce a sideslip angle of the aircraft;
• and
• c. responding to the command signal and moving the aircraft rudder to reduce the sideslip angle.

A control system for an aircraft having a rudder and a vertical stabilizer, the control system comprising:

• a. means for sensing, prior to a yawing movement of the aircraft, side forces on the vertical stabilizer of the aircraft;
• b. means for generating a signal, as a function of the sensed side forces, for commanding the rudder to move in a relieving direction so as to reduce any lift generated by the vertical stabilizer in response to the side forces, the generating means includes (1) means for generating a first signal as a function of any of the sensed side forces on the vertical stabilizer due to a gust, (2) means for generating a second signal as a function of any of the sensed side forces on the vertical stabilizer due to movement of a control surface of the aircraft, and (3) means for responding to the first signs/and not to the second signal so as to generate a command signal;
• and
• c. means for moving the aircraft rudder, the rudder moving means including means, responsive to the command signal, for moving the aircraft rudder to reduce the sensed side forces due to the gust.

A control system for an aircraft having a rudder and a vertical stabilizer, the control system comprising:

• a. means for sensing, prior to a yawing movement of the aircraft, side forces on the vertical stabilizer of the aircraft;
• b. means for generating a signal as a function of the sensed side forces so as to command the rudder to move in a direction which does not reduce a sideslip angle of the aircraft and which reduces the side forces;
• and
• c. means, responsive to the command signal, for moving the aircraft rudder.