Light Aircraft Flight Controls and How They Work

How the Elevator, Ailerons, and Rudder Control an Aeroplane Flight

Aug 4, 2009

The three primary lfight controls of an aircraft enable it to move in all directions in three dimensions. Here is a brief account of how they work.

Aeroplanes vary dramatically in size, shape, engine type, and other aerodynamic features. However, they all have the same basic flight controls. These are the elevator, ailerons, and rudder. Use of these controls the flight path of the aircraft in three dimensions.

The Elevator – Control of the Aeroplane in Pitch

The elevator of stabilator controls the aircraft in pitch. This means that it causes the nose of the plane to move up and down. As the control column or stick is moved back, the elevator moves up. This creates a downward moving force at the tail of the aircraft, and causes the nose of the plane to pitch up. Conversely, as the control column is moved forwards, lift is created at the tail, and the aircraft pitches nose down.

The Ailerons – Control of the Aircraft in Roll

As the control column is moved left, the left aileron – which is attached to the wing – moves up, and the right aileron moves down. This alters the amount of lift produced by each wing, with the left wing having less lift than the right wing. This imbalance causes the aircraft to roll, or turn, to the left. The plane continues to roll until the control column is centralized. If the column is moved to the right, the reverse occurs, with the plane turning right.

The Rudder – Control of the Aeroplane in Yaw

As the left rudder pedal is depressed, the rudder moves to the left. This creates a lift force at the fin and rudder, which acts to the right. This causes the aircraft to yaw to the left. And if the right rudder pedal is pressed, the reverse happens.

Further Effects of the Flight Controls

The above are the primary effects of the flying controls, but further aerodynamic effects of each control are seen in flight:-

All aircraft work basically in this way, but obviously more complicated planes such as airliners have other controls as well, and are not as simple to fly as light aircraft.

Source

The Private Pilot’s Licence Course, Vol 1, Flying Training, by Jeremy M Pratt, published by AFE

The copyright of the article Light Aircraft Flight Controls and How They Work in Aviation is owned by Helen Krasner. Permission to republish Light Aircraft Flight Controls and How They Work in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.