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: (A)

A spoiler mounted on the forward pylon is a design choice aimed at improving handling when automatic flight control is not providing stabilization. In manual (AFCS-off) flight, the airplane’s stability and control can be helped by devices that actively influence the flow to damp unwanted motions and provide additional control authority without relying on the primary flight control surfaces alone. A forward-pylon spoiler creates differential drag and local flow changes that help oppose roll and maintain steadier, more predictable behavior, making manual handling easier and reducing the workload on the pilot when the autopilot or stabilization system isn’t engaged.

The other options don’t target this specific need as directly. Strakes on the ramp and fuel pod modify airflow and can improve general aerodynamics, but they’re not tailored to provide the immediate, predictable damping or control augmentation that a forward-pylon spoiler offers for AFCS-off handling. A blunted aft pylon similarly affects flow in a more passive, broad way and isn’t designed to actively assist manual stability. Therefore, the forward-pylon spoiler best serves the goal of aiding AFCS off-flight stability and control.