Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology

Theory of Flight and Control

TOPIC 3
INTRODUCTION TO
AIRCRAFT FLIGHT
CONTROL

Prepared by Mohammad Anuar Yusof

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Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology

Theory of Flight and Control
3.

Axes of Flight

3.1

Introduction
The axes of an aircraft are three imaginary lines that pass through an aircrafts CG. The axes can
be considered as imaginary axles around which the aircraft turns. The three axes pass through
the CG at 90 angles to each other. Whenever an aircraft changes its flight attitude or position in
flight, it rotates about one or more of the three axes. (Refer figure 1)

Figure 1: Three Control Axes of Aircraft

3.1.1

Longitudinal Axis
The longitudinal axis runs along the centre of the
fuselage, from the nose to the tail. Movement or motion
about this axis is called rolling or the aircraft is said to
roll. (Refer figure 2)
The flight control surface that causes the roll movement
is the ailerons.

3.1.2

Lateral Axis
The lateral axis runs spanwise from wing tip to wing tip.
Movement or motion about this axis is called pitching
or the aircraft is said to pitch. (Refer figure 3)
Figure 2: Rolling Movement
The flight control surface that causes the pitch movement is the elevators.

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Theory of Flight and Control
3.1.3

Vertical Axis
The vertical axis passes vertically through the center of gravity of the aircraft. Movement or
motion about this axis is called yawing or the aircraft is said to yaw. (Refer figure 4)
The flight control surface that causes the yaw movement is the rudder.

Figure 3: Pitching Movement

3.2

Figure 4: Yawing Movement

Aircraft Flight Control Input Devices

Aircraft control systems are carefully designed to provide adequate responsiveness to control
inputs while allowing a natural feel. At low airspeeds, the controls usually feel soft and sluggish,
and the aircraft responds slowly to control applications. At higher airspeeds, the controls
become increasingly firm and aircraft response is more rapid.
There are few types of control input devices, in which the pilot use to give input to the aircraft
flight control system. We are only going to discuss the common type you usually can find on
aircraft. (Refer figure 5)

Figure 5: Aircraft Flight Controls

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Theory of Flight and Control
3.2.1

Control Wheel
The control wheel (also known as control stick or yoke)
is connected to the ailerons by cables, bellcranks,
pulleys and/or push-pull tubes. It is used to control
aircraft rolling movement. (Refer figure 6)
When the control wheel is turned; the aileron on one
wing deflects upward, while the aileron on the other
wing goes down. This increases and decreases lift on
the wings. Increased lift on the left wing and the
decreased lift on the right wing cause the airplane to
roll to the right. Increased lift on the right wing and
the decreased lift on the left wing cause the airplane to
roll the left.
Figure 6: Control Wheel

3.2.2

Control Column
The control column is connected to the elevator in the
flight deck by a series of mechanical linkages. It is used
to control aircraft pitching movement. (Refer figure 7)
When pulled, the aft movement of the control column
deflects the elevator up. The effect causes the tail of
the aircraft to move down and the nose to pitch up.
When pushed, the forward movement of the control
column will deflects the elevator down. This moves the
tail upward and pitches the nose down.
Figure 7: Control Column

3.2.3

Rudder Pedal
Moving the left or right rudder pedal controls the rudder. When the rudder is deflected into the
airflow, a horizontal force is exerted in the opposite direction. By pushing the left pedal, the
rudder moves left and creates a sideward lift that moves the tail to the right and yaws the nose
of the airplane to the left. Similarly when the right pedal is pushed, the rudder moves to the
right that moves the tail to the left and yaws the nose of the airplane to the right. (Refer figure
8)

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Theory of Flight and Control

Figure 8: Rudder Pedal

3.3 Flight Control Surfaces
Aircraft flight controls are broadly classified into: (Refer figure 9)
Primary controls
Secondary controls
The primary flight controls are used to move the aircraft about one of the 3 primary control
axes. The 3 primary flight controls and the resulting movements are:
Ailerons for rolling, operated by sideward movement of the control wheel
Elevators for pitch, operated by fore and aft movements of the control column
Rudder for yawing, operated by the rudder pedals.
The secondary flight controls are:
Trimming devices such as tabs
Control force reducing devices such as flight spoilers
Lift control devices such as slats and flaps.
Drag increasing devices such as ground spoilers and flaps.
They are used to improve the performance characteristics of the aircraft and assist the pilot in
operating the control devices and reducing or relieving the pilot of excessive control forces.

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Theory of Flight and Control

Figure 9: Flight Control Surfaces

For this topic, we will only be discussing the primary flight control.
3.3.1

Aileron
Ailerons are hinge-mounted on the trailing edge of the wing, near the tip. They are moved from
the cockpit by the turning motion of the control wheel.
Ailerons provide the lateral control about the longitudinal axis. In the neutral position of the
control wheel the ailerons are also at neutral. The aircraft maintains a steady lateral attitude
(wings level condition) because there is no difference between the lift of the left and that of the
right wing section.
If the control wheel is moved to the left, the left aileron will deflect upwards and, at the same
time, the right aileron will deflect downwards. The up--going (left) aileron reduces the lift at the
left wing causing the wing to slightly descend. The down--going (right) aileron increases the lift
at the right wing which results in ascend of the wing. This causes a rolling moment to the left
and the aircraft assumes a banking attitude to the left. The opposite effect is obtained if the
control wheel is moved towards the right. (Refer figure 10)
The ailerons are rate control devices. Movement of the aileron is only required to initiate a
certain rate of roll. When the required bank is reached they should be returned to neutral to
maintain the selected rate of roll.

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Theory of Flight and Control

Figure 10: Aileron Movement

3.3.2

Elevator
Elevators are hinge--mounted at the trailing
edge of the horizontal stabiliser. They are
operated by fore-and-aft movements of the
control column.
Elevators provide the longitudinal control
about the lateral axis. In the neutral position
of the control column the elevators are also
at neutral. The aircraft maintains a steady
altitude.
If the control column is moved back the
elevators move up. This creates a loss of lift
at the tail making it moving down. This downmovement of the tail causes the nose of the
aircraft to pitch upwards. The aircraft
assumes a climbing attitude.
(Refer figure 11)
Figure 11: Elevator Movement
If the control is moved forward the elevators move down. There is an increase in stabiliser lift,
which makes the tail to move upwards. When the tail moves up the nose of the aircraft pitches
down and the aircraft assumes a diving attitude.
The elevator is a displacement control device. This implies that the elevators must be kept in a
certain position to obtain and maintain a certain pitch attitude.

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Theory of Flight and Control

3.3.3

Rudder
The rudder is hinge-mounted to the trailing edge of the vertical stabiliser. It is operated by
moving the appropriate rudder pedals.
The rudder provides directional control about the vertical axis. Pushing the left pedal moves the
rudder to the left. Pushing the right pedal moves the rudder to the right. In both cases the
airflow behind the vertical stabiliser is changed, making the tail moves to the right or left. The
response of the aircrafts nose is into the opposite direction, i.e. into the direction of the pedal
used. (Refer figure 12)
The rudder is a displacement control device. This means that the rudder must be kept in a
certain position to obtain a selected state of yaw. In practice, the aircraft is turned with the
combined effects of ailerons and rudder.

Figure 12: Rudder Movement

3.4

Relationship between Pilots Control and Flight Control Surface

The pilots controls in the flight deck must be instinctive and work in the correct sense with the
flight control surface. (Refer table in figure 13).
Instinctive means that when the pilot moves the controls (control wheel, control column or
rudder pedals) he/she expects that the aircraft will manoeuvre or response in accordance to the
given input.
The correct sense means that the flight control surfaces should move in the correct relationship
to the movement of the pilots controls.

Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology

Theory of Flight and Control

PILOTS CONTROL
INPUT

AIRCRAFT
MOVEMENT
(INSTINCTIVE)

Control wheel rotate

to the left.

Aircraft rolls to the

left.

Left aileron moves

up, right aileron
moves down.

Control wheel rotate

to the right.

Aircraft rolls to the

right.

Right aileron moves

up, left aileron
moves down.

CONTROL SURFACE
MOVEMENT (SENSE)

EFFECT
The up going aileron experiences a down
force which pushes the wing down. The
down going aileron experiences an
upward force which pushes the wing up.

As above.

Aerodynamic force hits the control

surface causing the tailplane to go
down and the nose goes up.
Aerodynamic force hits the control
Control column
Aircraft pitches
Elevators move
surface causing the tailplane to go up
pushed forward.
down.
down.
and the nose goes down.
Aerodynamic force pushes the rudder
Left rudder pedal
Aircraft yaws to
Rudder moves to
causing the tail to move to the right
pushed forward.
the left.
the left.
and the nose to the left.
Aerodynamic force pushes the rudder
Right rudder pedal Aircraft yaws to
Rudder moves to
causing the tail to move to the left
pushed forward.
the right.
the right.
and the nose to the right.
Figure 13: Relationship between pilots control input and Control surfaces movement.
Control column
pulled back.

Aircraft pitches
up.

Elevators move up.