Originally Posted by
DDCT
During cruise the positioning of flight control components on the wing don't effect the smoothness of the flight. The floors are connected to the airframe and aren;t meant to absorb shock from turbulence. Seat padding is the airlines choice and not an aircraft specific device.
The positioning of flight control components don't effect smoothness of flight during cruise, but do change how the aircraft responds to input to those surfaces. Since input is required to counter initial upset, I would argue that they still have an influence on how the aircraft "feels" when encountering turbulence. Regarding the seats -- yes, they are airline specific, but if we're talking about DL, the seats installed on individual models CAN impact how turbulence "feels".
Originally Posted by
DDCT
Aircraft turbulence is simply the wings passing through air. The loading of the wing, meaning it's ability to react to the disruption in airflow is the sole variable in the amount of turbulence felt. There isn't a discernible difference between the airliners.
But generally, turbulence "feel" is not only the upset, but also the reaction to it. This is pilot, autopilot, control surface positioning dependent.
Another example of how aircraft "feel" different in turbulence: In my experience, if in F on a 752 or particularly a 753, turbulence feels more like a side to side motion than an up and down one. It's almost like the nose of the aircraft is shimmying from side to side when turbulence is encountered. Feels a lot different than a similar incident on an A320 or MD90 or B737.