This document discusses the primary flight controls of aircraft: 1. The elevator controls pitch around the lateral axis using upward and downward deflection. Larger aircraft use hydraulic or electric systems. 2. The rudder controls yaw around the normal axis and is operated by rudder pedals, which also control steering while taxiing. Some aircraft with V-tails use linked ruddervator surfaces. 3. Ailerons control roll around the longitudinal axis and work differentially to bank the aircraft, sometimes assisted by differential rudder inputs to coordinate the turn. Some light aircraft use flaperons.

1. Aviation Basic
Aircraft Controls

2. Revision – Name the components

3. Lateral Longitudinal & Vertical AxisThe family car can
only be controlled
around one axis
Which of these?
Need to know
the aircraft
terminology

4. One control that is often forgotten is the throttle, it is perhaps the most
important
Increase the speed and the angle of attack changes due to the increased
lift causing the aircraft to climb. Conversely lowering the speed reduces
lift and causes a dive

5. The elevator controls pitch about the lateral axis. on small aircraft, the elevator is
connected to the control column in the flight deck by a series of mechanical linkages. Aft
movement of the control column deflects the trailing edge of the elevator surface up.
This is usually referred to as up “elevator.”

6. Typical schematic drawing of mechanical
elevator operation
Larger aircraft use a hydraulic system and or
electrical servos to operate controls

7. Control surfaces are balanced so that the hinge point is
the centre of gravity
This helps prevent “flutter”

8. Typical slab tail arrangement

10. Rudder controls
yaw around the
normal axis
and is operated
by the rudder
pedals
The rudder
pedals also
control steering
when the aircraft
is taxying

11. Beechcraft Bonanza V35.
On a “V tail”, the movable surfaces, are usually called ruddervators. They are connected
through a special linkage that allows the control wheel to move both surfaces simultaneously.
On the other hand, displacement of the rudder pedals moves the surfaces differentially,
thereby providing directional control.

12. Ailerons control roll around the longitudinal axis, and are probably the
most complicated of the 3 axis control system

13. Differential ailerons move further up than down
when actuated from the control column

14. Frise-type ailerons create a slot between the wing and
the aileron to inject laminar flow around the aileron
surface

15. In reality, to turn an aircraft
one would bank turning the
aircraft towards the wing being
lowered. Some systems have
the ailerons connected to the
rudder to assist the turn

16. Flaperons on a Skystar Kitfox MK 7.
On some light aircraft the ailerons run the full length
of the wings and incorporate Flaps operating both as
flaps and ailerons

17. Secondary controls
Flaps and high lift devices

18. Flaps
Flaps are high-lift
devices. Diagram
shows the most
common used on
aircraft

19. Leading Edge Devices

21. Triple slotted Fowler Flap commonly used on wide bodies aircraft

22. Trim Systems
Although an aircraft can be operated throughout a wide range of attitudes,
airspeeds, and power settings, it can be designed to fly hands-off within
only a very limited combination of these variables. Trim systems are used
to relieve the pilot of the need to maintain constant pressure on the flight
controls, and usually consist of flight deck controls and small hinged
devices attached to the trailing edge of one or more of the primary flight
control surfaces. Designed to help minimize a pilot’s workload, trim
systems aerodynamically assist movement and position of the flight control
surface to which they are attached. Common types of trim systems include
trim tabs, balance tabs, antiservo tabs, ground adjustable tabs, and an
adjustable stabilizer

26. Fixed trim tabs are often used on light aircraft and are adjusted during
a series of test flights

27. Spoilers are used to create drag assisting in slowing down a landing aircraft

29. Spoilers (lift dumpers) are used on gliders