Which is a design feature meant to aid AFCS off flight?

• A. Spoiler on fwd pylon
• B. Strakes on ramp and fuel pod
• C. Blunted aft pylon
• D. None of the above

Answer: (B)

When the Automatic Flight Control System is not active, the airplane’s natural stability and how its surfaces interact with the airflow become critical for controllable flight. Strakes placed on the ramp and on the fuel pod are aerodynamic features that intentionally generate vortices as the air flows around those parts of the aircraft. These vortices energize the airflow, helping keep the flow attached over nearby surfaces and improving directional stability and control response in manual (AFCS-off) flight. This passive stabilization makes handling more predictable, reduces pilot workload, and mitigates undesirable buffet or loss of control that can occur when automatic trim and stabilization aren’t assisting.

Other options don’t provide that same targeted stability benefit. Spoilers alter lift and are typically used for control or drag purposes under different operating conditions, not specifically to aid manual control when AFCS is off. A blunted aft pylon doesn’t offer the same stabilizing vortices and flow behavior improvement as strakes on the ramp and pod.