# Flight Controls: Overview

> Primary and secondary flight controls and their interaction with stability.

- **Subject:** 081 — Principles of Flight
- **Section:** 081-05 — Control
- **Topic code:** 081-05-01
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-04-01
- **Author:** Pablo Asensio Martínez
- **HTML version:** https://pilotsyllabus.com/en/principles-of-flight/control/general/

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## Primary Control Services
Controls that rotate the aircraft around its three axes:
1.  **Elevator** (Pitch / Lateral Axis).
2.  **Ailerons** (Roll / Longitudinal Axis).
3.  **Rudder** (Yaw / Normal Axis).

## Secondary Flight Controls
Used to change the aerodynamic configuration or assist primary controls.
*   **Trim Tabs**: Relieve control forces.
*   **Balance Tabs**: Assist in moving the control surface (reduce force).
*   **Anti-Balance Tabs**: Increase control feel (increase force).
*   **Flaps/Slats**: High lift devices.
*   **Spoilers**: Lift dumpers / Airbrakes.

## Interaction
*   **Maneuverability vs Stability**: A highly stable aircraft is harder to control (heavy controls). A highly maneuverable aircraft (like a fighter) is less stable.
*   **Control Reversal**: At very high speeds, aeroelastic twisting of the wing can cause aileron reversal (deflecting aileron down twists the wing leading edge down, reducing lift instead of increasing it).

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Free study notes from pilotsyllabus.com. Not a substitute for training at an approved ATO.