How to Control an Airplane : How does a Pilot Control the Plane?

Summary

This educational video script offers a beginner's guide to airplane controls. It outlines the initial steps, including inspecting the aircraft, familiarizing oneself with the cockpit, and understanding key instruments like the airspeed indicator, artificial horizon, and altimeter. It also covers the functions of the yoke, throttle, and rudder pedals. The script emphasizes the importance of proper training and certification before flying, hinting at future content on takeoff procedures.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Always start by inspecting the aircraft and referring to the instruction manual.
• 💺 After sitting, ensure to wear your seat belt and get comfortable.
• ✈️ The yoke in front of you functions like a steering wheel for controlling the plane's direction.
• 📉 Push the yoke down to descend, pull to ascend, and use left and right for rolling maneuvers.
• 🔥 Locate the throttle and fuel mixture controls, which are crucial for managing the aircraft's power.
• 📋 Familiarize yourself with the six primary flight instruments for essential flight data.
• ✈️ The airspeed indicator shows the aircraft's speed in nautical miles per hour.
• 🌐 The artificial horizon provides the aircraft's attitude, including climb, descent, and banking.
• 📈 The altimeter displays the aircraft's altitude in feet above sea level.
• 🔄 The turn and bank indicator shows rate of turn and whether the flight is coordinated.
• 🧭 The heading indicator shows the aircraft's compass heading and requires calibration every 15 minutes.
• 🛫 The vertical speed indicator informs you of the rate of climb or descent in feet per minute.
• 🔧 The landing gear controls are on the console and are used to deploy or retract the landing gear.
• 🦶 The rudder pedals control the yaw of the aircraft, especially during taxiing.
• ⚠️ This guide is for understanding controls only; proper training and certification are necessary for flying.

Q & A

What is the first step to understanding the controls of an airplane?

The first step is to initiate an inspection of the aircraft by going through the instruction manual.

What should you do after getting seated in the airplane?

After getting seated, you should wear your seat belt and become comfortable.

What is the function of the yoke in an airplane?

The yoke acts similarly to a steering wheel and is used to control the airplane's pitch and roll.

How do you control the airplane to go up or down using the yoke?

You push down on the yoke to go down and pull it to go up.

Where are the throttle and fuel mixture controls located in the cockpit?

The throttle and fuel mixture controls are located between the two seats in the cockpit.

What are the six primary flight instruments found in an airplane's cockpit?

The six primary flight instruments are the airspeed indicator, artificial horizon, altimeter, turn and bank indicator, heading indicator, and vertical speed indicator.

What does the airspeed indicator show and in what units?

The airspeed indicator shows the speed of the aircraft in nautical miles per hour.

How often should you calibrate the heading indicator?

You should calibrate the heading indicator every 15 minutes by adjusting it to agree with the compass.

What is the purpose of the landing gear controls on the console?

The landing gear controls are used to deploy or retract the landing gear of the airplane.

How do the rudder pedals control the airplane during taxiing?

The rudder pedals control the yaw of the airplane, allowing it to turn during taxiing.

What is the importance of familiarizing yourself with the airplane's controls before flying?

Familiarizing yourself with the controls is essential for understanding how to operate the airplane, but it does not provide any authority or certification to fly. Proper training with instructors is recommended.