Ailerons
Elevators
Rudders
Trim
Flaps
Controls Assignment | |
Operating Airplane Control Surfaces
Pilots use control surfaces, also called flight controls, to move the airplane about
its axes of motion. Control surfaces are actually airfoils that deflect air in one
direction and cause the airplane to move in the opposite direction.
Primary and Secondary Controls
Control surfaces fall into two basic categories:
 | Primary control surfaces include the ailerons, rudder, and elevator. Primary control
surfaces are manipulated by the control yoke or stick and the rudder pedals. In small,
general aviation airplanes, the control yoke and pedals are linked directly to the control
surfaces by a system of cables and pulleys. In larger aircraft, hydraulic systems boost
the pilot's control inputs. |
| Secondary control surfaces include trim devices and flaps. Secondary surfaces are
controlled either mechanically or electrically.The Axes of FlightEach of the three primary
control surfaces moves an airplane about one of the three axes of flight. The ailerons
bank or roll the airplane about its longitudinal axis. The rudder yaws the airplane about
its vertical axis. The elevator moves the airplane about its lateral axis, changing the
aircraft's pitch attitude. |
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