Pitch is controlled about which axis?

• A. Longitudinal axis
• B. Lateral axis
• C. Vertical axis
• D. None

Answer: (A)

Pitch is the rotation about the lateral axis, which runs wingtip to wingtip. The elevator moves to tilt the nose up or down by acting around that axis, changing the aircraft’s angle of attack. This axis is distinct from the longitudinal axis (nose to tail), about which rotation is roll and is controlled by the ailerons, and from the vertical axis (top to bottom), about which rotation is yaw and is controlled by the rudder.