Airplanes are designed with a variety of flight control surfaces. From ailerons to elevators, rudders and more, they consist of movable surfaces. Pilots can activate a given flight control surface, at which point the surface will move like a hinge. This movement can change the airplane’s flight characteristics. When an airplane is on the ground, however, gust locks are often used to protect these flight control surfaces.
What Are Gust Locks?
Gust locks are mechanical devices that prevent a parked airplane’s flight control surfaces from moving. They essentially lock a given flight control surface into a fixed position. Once locked, the surface won’t be able to extend or otherwise move.
Why Parked Airplanes Use Gust Locks
During flight, pilots can engage the airplane’s flight control surfaces to change direction or altitude. Doing so will affect the way in which air travels over the airplane’s body. When parked, airplanes are still exposed to moving air, which can prove problematic.
Strong wing gusts can take a toll on a parked airplane’s flight control surfaces. It will stress the surfaces themselves as well as adjacent components like hinges, cables and linkages. Over time, exposure to strong wind gusts can cause flight control surfaces to fail. Fortunately, gust locks are available to protect against such damage.
How Gust Locks Work
There are different types of gust locks, some of which are more complex than others. Small airplanes typically feature basic gust locks that attach to the control yoke. They are designed to lock the control yoke, which in turn prevents the mechanically connected flight control surfaces from moving.
Larger airplanes, on the other hand, typically have more complicated gust locks. They are designed to lock elements of the airplane’s flight-control mechanism. They may physically restrain the control surfaces, or they may secure controls or associated components. While they work in different ways, all gust locks prevent the airplane’s flight control surfaces from moving.
How Wind Can Damage Flight Control Surfaces
Wind can damage flight control surfaces by forcing them to move. Most flight control surfaces pivot via a hinge. When exposed to strong wind gusts, they will rotate. An aileron or rudder, for instance, will rotate around the hinge to which it’s connected. If the wind changes direction, the aileron or rudder will rotate in the opposite direction. Over time, these back-and-forth movements can damage flight control surfaces through mechanical wear and tear.
