22.14 Flight Controls

22.14.2 Identify the three aircraft axes, movement about those axes, and primary flight controls.

The three aircraft axes are the:

• longitudinal axis (roll),
• lateral axis (pitch), and
• normal/vertical axis (yaw).

The primary flight controls are the:

• ailerons (roll),
• elevators (pitch), and
• rudder (yaw).

22.14.4 Explain how control in pitch, roll, and yaw is achieved.

Pitch

Control in pitch is achieved by using the elevators, which are located on the horizontal stabiliser.

By moving the elevators up or down, the pilot can control the aircraft's pitch, or its nose-up or nose-down attitude.

The pilot operates the elevator by moving the control column forward or aft.

• The pilot moves the control column forward,
  • elevators move down,
  • tail moves up
  • the nose pitches down
• The pilot moves the control column aft,
  • elevators move up,
  • tail moves down
  • the nose pitches up
   

Roll

Control in roll is achieved by using the ailerons, which are located on the trailing edge of each wing.

By moving the ailerons up and down, the pilot can control the aircraft's roll, or its banking motion left or right.

The ailerons move in opposite directions to each other; when one goes up, the other goes down.