Instrument Rating Checkride Practice Test

The primary flight controls of an aircraft are essential for managing its movements about the three axes: roll, pitch, and yaw. Ailerons, elevators, and the rudder serve distinct roles in controlling these axes.

Ailerons are located on the wings and primarily manage roll. By deflecting one aileron up and the other down, the aircraft can tilt side to side, allowing for turns and lateral maneuvers.

Elevators are found on the tail and control pitch. By adjusting the angle of the elevators, the pilot can raise or lower the nose of the aircraft, affecting its ascent or descent.

The rudder, located on the vertical stabilizer, controls yaw. It helps in directing the aircraft left or right, countering adverse yaw that can occur during turns.

In contrast, while options like throttle, flaps, and trim are crucial to overall flight operation, they do not constitute primary flight controls. Throttle regulates power, flaps adjust lift for takeoff and landing, and trim helps maintain a steady flight path without constant control input, but none of these directly control the pitch, roll, or yaw in the same fundamental way as the ailerons, elevators, and rudder. Therefore, the primary flight