NAVWEPS 00-80T-80 
STABILITY AND CONTROL 
Chapter 4 
STABILITY AND CONTROL 
An aircraft must have satisfactory handling 
qualities in addition to adequate performance. 
‘lYhe aircraft must have adequate stability to 
maintain a uniform flight condition and recover 
from the various disturbing influences. It is 
necessary to provide sufficient stability to 
minimize the workload of the pilot. Also, the 
aircraft must have proper response to the 
controls so that it may achieve the inherent 
performance. There are certain conditions of 
flight which provide the most critical require- 
ments of stability and control and these condi- 
tions must be understood and respected to 
accomplish safe and efficient operation of the 
aircraft. 
DEFINITIONS 
STATIC STABILITY 
An aircraft is in a state of equilibrium when 
the sum of all forces and all moments is equal 
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