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How to Steer an Airplane

An airplane has two sets of controls for steering. The yoke, a small steering wheel mounted on a column that moves back and forth, is found in most modern airplanes and controls motion up and down---diving and climbing---and, when used with the rudder pedals, turns to the left and right.

In older airplanes, where the pilot usually sits in the single back seat and the passenger in the single front seat, there is no yoke, but a stick, called the joystick, which moves backward and forward as well as to the left and right. Like the yoke, the back and forth movement controls climbing and diving and movement to the left and right along with the rudder pedals, controls turns.

Instructions

- 1
  To turn the airplane to the left, gently push the left rudder pedal with your left foot while turning the wheel to the left slowly. If you hold the wheel and rudder pedal in one place, you will continue to turn. The farther you push the rudder pedal and turn the wheel, the faster and more uncontrollably the airplane will turn.
- 2
  To stop the turn to the left, slowly turn the wheel to the right and gently push the right rudder pedal with your right foot until you stop turning. When you have stopped turning, the wings will be level and you will be going in one direction as shown on the compass.
- 3
  To take the airplane higher, gently pull back on the yoke until you begin to climb. Climbing at too great an angle will cause the wings to lose lift---what pilots call a stall. Make changes in altitude gently by pulling the yoke back gradually.
- 4
  To stop climbing, push the yoke forward. When you reach your desired altitude, push the yoke forward gently until your climb stops. Your wings will be level and the altimeter will be steady at the new altitude rather than climbing.
- 5
  To take the airplane lower, gently push the yoke forward. To stop your descent, pull back gently on the yoke until descent stops. Your wings will be level and the altimeter will be steady at the new altitude.

Aviation