Which fixed-wing aircraft control surface can induce a moment around the lateral axis?

• A. Aileron
• B. Rudder
• C. Elevator
• D. Flap

Answer: (C)

Pitch is controlled directly by the elevator. Located on the horizontal stabilizer, the elevator deflects to change the tail’s lift, which creates a pitching moment about the aircraft’s center of gravity. This moment rotates the nose up or down, which is rotation around the lateral axis (the wingtip-to-wingtip axis). Ailerons produce roll about the longitudinal axis, and the rudder produces yaw about the vertical axis. Flaps mainly increase lift and drag and can influence pitch only indirectly, but the elevator is the surface that directly induces the pitch moment.