Primary Flight Control
What surface controls roll?
Ailerons (control roll).
Name one secondary flight control in our aircraft.
Flaps or trim
Name the three axes of flight.
Longitudinal, Lateral, and Vertical
The pilot moves the yoke left. What happens?
The airplane rolls left (aileron input).
What is the main purpose of the horizontal stabilizer?
The horizontal stabilizer keeps the nose from pitching up or down.
Which axis is controlled by the elevator?
Elevator controls pitch on the lateral axis
What is the purpose of flaps during landing?
They increase lift at lower speeds so the airplane can land slower.
Which axis runs wingtip to wingtip?
Lateral axis (runs wingtip to wingtip)
The pilot pulls back on the yoke. Which axis and control surface?
Pitch up, controlled by the elevator on the lateral axis.
What is the vertical stabilizer’s job?
The vertical stabilizer keeps the nose from yawing side to side.
What is the difference between a stabilator and a stabilizer?
An elevator moves separately from the fixed stabilizer; a stabilator is an all-moving horizontal tail surface.
How does trim reduce pilot workload?
Trim relieves pressure on the controls so the pilot doesn’t have to hold constant force.
Which control surface affects the vertical axis?
The rudder, which controls yaw around the vertical axis.
During a crosswind landing, which control surface keeps the nose aligned with the runway?
The rudder keeps the nose aligned with the runway. With the help of aileron into wind and opposite rudder.
What does “yaw” mean in terms of airplane motion?
Yaw is side-to-side movement of the nose around the vertical axis.
If the rudder is deflected left, what happens to the nose of the plane?
The nose yaws left.
Why does extending flaps increase both lift and drag?
Flaps change the wing shape, creating more lift momentarily but also more drag on the long run.
Explain what happens when you push the yoke forward.
The nose pitches down around the lateral axis.
You need to descend without gaining speed — which secondary control helps?
Use flaps — they let you descend at a steeper angle without gaining speed.
Why would an airplane without a rudder be unsafe to fly?
Without a rudder, the airplane can’t control yaw, making it unstable and unsafe. (Slips)
What happens to the ailerons when the pilot moves the control yoke to the right?
The right aileron goes up, the left aileron goes down, and the airplane rolls to the right along the longitudinal axis
Explain how trim tabs actually move control surfaces.
A trim tab deflects airflow, which moves the main control surface in the opposite direction to help relieve pressure
How do all three axes interact when performing a coordinated turn?
The ailerons bank (roll), the elevator changes pitch, and the rudder coordinates yaw to keep the turn smooth.
Explain how a pilot uses rudder and aileron together to make a coordinated turn.
The ailerons bank the wings while the rudder counters the yaw, keeping the turn coordinated.
Why do you think airplanes have both primary and secondary controls instead of only one type?
Primary controls handle the main movements, while secondary controls fine-tune performance and reduce pilot workload.