Which components are primary flight controls?

• A. Flaps, slats, spoilers, trim
• B. Ailerons, elevator, rudder
• C. Landing gear and tires
• D. Engines and propellers

Answer: (B)

Primary flight controls are the surfaces that directly change the airplane’s attitude and flight path. The three standard controls are the ailerons, elevator, and rudder. The ailerons move to create different lift on the wings, causing the aircraft to roll and bank for turns. The elevator moves the nose up or down, controlling pitch for climbs and descents. The rudder moves the nose left or right, controlling yaw for coordinated flight and helping with crosswind alignment. These surfaces are what you actively use to steer in the air. Other surfaces like flaps, slats, spoilers, or trim adjust lift, drag, or stability and speed up changes, but they don’t directly set the aircraft’s orientation the way the three primary controls do. Engines and propellers provide thrust, not attitude control.