Overview
This lecture explains the three principal axes of aircraft movement—pitch, yaw, and roll—centered around the center of gravity.
Aircraft Axes and Center of Gravity
- An aircraft can rotate in three dimensions, called axes of movement.
- The center of gravity is the average location of the aircraft's mass.
- Suspending the aircraft at the center of gravity keeps it balanced.
- All three axes pass through the center of gravity and are perpendicular to each other.
Principal Axes of Movement
- The normal axis runs from top to bottom through the aircraft.
- The lateral axis runs parallel to the wings, from side to side.
- The longitudinal axis runs from the tail to the nose of the aircraft.
Types of Rotational Movement
- Rotation about the lateral axis is called pitch and changes the nose's vertical direction.
- Rotation about the normal axis is called yaw and moves the nose from side to side.
- Rotation about the longitudinal axis is called roll and tilts the wings up and down.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Axis (plural: axes) — An imaginary line about which the aircraft rotates.
- Center of Gravity — The point where the mass of the aircraft is balanced in all directions.
- Pitch — Rotation about the lateral axis, changing the aircraft's nose up or down.
- Yaw — Rotation about the normal axis, moving the aircraft's nose left or right.
- Roll — Rotation about the longitudinal axis, tilting the wings up or down.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review diagrams of aircraft axes and label each type of rotation.