The three axes of rotation intersect at the CG. [Figure 2-23]
Lateral Axis— Pitch
Motion about the lateral axis, or pitch, is controlled by AOA/ speed and the throttle. Lowering the AOA (increasing speed) rotates the nose down while increasing the AOA (decreasing speed) rotates the nose up.
Increasing the thrust of the propeller rotates the WSC aircraft pitch up (nose up) to climb and pitch down (nose down) at reduced throttle.
Longitudinal Axis— Roll
Turning is initiated by rolling about the longitudinal axis, into a bank similar to an airplane using aileron and rudder control. To turn, shift the weight to the side in the direction of the turn, increasing the weight on that side. This increases the twist on that side while decreasing the twist on the other side, similar to actuating the ailerons on an airplane. The increased twist on the side with the increased weight reduces the AOA on the tip, reducing the lift on that side and dropping the wing into a bank. The other wing, away from which the weight has been shifted, decreases twist. The AOA increases, increasing the lift on that wing and thereby raising it.
Thus, shifting the weight to one side warps the wing (changes the twist) to drop one wing and raise the other, rolling the WSC aircraft about the longitudinal axis. [Figure 2-24] More details on the controls that assist wing warping are covered in chapter 3, which should be considered with use of the controls in the takeoff, landing, and flight maneuvers sections of this section.
Vertical Axis— Yaw
The WSC wing is designed to fly directly into the relative wind because it does not provide for direct control of rotation about the vertical axis.
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