Elevators control motion about which axis?

Elevators control motion about which axis?

• A. Longitudinal axis
• B. Vertical axis
• C. Lateral axis
• D. Normal axis

Answer: (C)

Elevators control pitch, which is rotation about the lateral axis that runs from wingtip to wingtip. The horizontal stabilizer carries the elevator; when you deflect it, the tail’s lift changes in a way that rotates the nose up or down. This is different from roll, which is about the longitudinal axis and coordinated by the ailerons, and from yaw, which is about the vertical axis and controlled by the rudder. So, the elevator’s effect is on the lateral-axis rotation of the aircraft.

Elevators control pitch, which is rotation about the lateral axis that runs from wingtip to wingtip. The horizontal stabilizer carries the elevator; when you deflect it, the tail’s lift changes in a way that rotates the nose up or down. This is different from roll, which is about the longitudinal axis and coordinated by the ailerons, and from yaw, which is about the vertical axis and controlled by the rudder. So, the elevator’s effect is on the lateral-axis rotation of the aircraft.