Lesson Summary

The flight controls in an airplane are crucial for a pilot to maneuver the aircraft through its three axes of flight:

• They either use a yoke or a stick to manipulate control surfaces that steer the airplane.
• These controls are mechanical and operate through a series of pulleys, rods, and chains.
• The primary flight controls manage ailerons, elevator, and rudder, which are essential for safe flying.

Secondary flight controls include additional systems like flaps, spoilers, and trim systems that aid in flying.

The yoke or stick controls the lateral axis of the airplane with left-right movements:

• For instance, in a right turn, the left aileron lowers to elevate the left wing while the right aileron raises to lower the right wing, prompting the aircraft to roll right.
• Adverse yaw must be countered during turns by adding in rudder opposite to the direction of the turn.

Adjusting the elevator controls the pitch of the aircraft:

• By pulling back on the yoke, the elevator moves upward, causing the plane to pitch up.

The rudder pedals on the floor connect to the rudder at the back of the airplane:

• Pressing the left pedal turns the nose to the left, and pressing the right pedal shifts it to the right.