Which control surfaces provide lateral control (pitch)?

Which control surfaces provide lateral control (pitch)?

• A. Ailerons
• B. Elevators and Stabilizers
• C. Cyclic
• D. Antitorque Pedals

Answer: (B)

Pitch in fixed-wing aircraft is controlled by the elevators on the horizontal stabilizer. When the elevator deflects, it changes the tail’s angle of attack, creating a pitching moment that raises or lowers the nose. The horizontal stabilizer provides stability at the tail and serves as the mounting point for the elevator, and some designs use an all-moving tail for the same effect. Ailerons control roll about the longitudinal axis, not pitch; the cyclic is a rotorcraft control that tilts the rotor disk to produce directional tilts; and pedals (rudder/anti-torque) control yaw around the vertical axis. So elevators and the horizontal stabilizer are the surfaces that produce lateral control about the lateral axis, i.e., pitch.

Pitch in fixed-wing aircraft is controlled by the elevators on the horizontal stabilizer. When the elevator deflects, it changes the tail’s angle of attack, creating a pitching moment that raises or lowers the nose. The horizontal stabilizer provides stability at the tail and serves as the mounting point for the elevator, and some designs use an all-moving tail for the same effect. Ailerons control roll about the longitudinal axis, not pitch; the cyclic is a rotorcraft control that tilts the rotor disk to produce directional tilts; and pedals (rudder/anti-torque) control yaw around the vertical axis. So elevators and the horizontal stabilizer are the surfaces that produce lateral control about the lateral axis, i.e., pitch.