Fundamentals of Aircraft Control Axes

The aileron controls the longitudinal axis of an aircraft by providing roll control.

The rudder controls the vertical axis of an aircraft or watercraft, helping to steer the vehicle left or right.

In aviation, the rudder is the control surface that produces yaw by controlling the movement of the aircraft about its vertical axis. Elevator controls pitch, throttle controls engine power, and aileron controls roll.

The elevator controls the lateral axis, or roll axis, of an aircraft by changing the aircraft's pitch.

The elevator is the control surface on an aircraft's tail that controls pitch by moving up and down. Ailerons are used to control roll, the rudder is used to control yaw, and flaps are used to create drag to slow down the aircraft during landing or takeoff.