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How to Use Elevator Trim in an Airplane

Elevator trim is used by pilots to hold an airplane at a particular pitch attitude. A wheel, lever, or switch in the cockpit adjusts a pair of small surfaces called trim tabs, located on the elevators. By changing the angle of the trim tabs, the elevators themselves will be slightly repositioned by the airflow, thus changing the neutral position of the elevators so that the aircraft naturally stabilizes at a new pitch angle. Elevator trim reduces the pilot's workload so that he does not have to hold constant pressure on the elevator control during a climb, descent, or other maneuver that requires a constant pitch angle to be held for a continuous period of time.

Things You'll Need

An airplane or a realistic simulator

Instructions

- 1
  Move the elevator control until the pitch angle of the aircraft is at the desired angle.
- 2
  Adjust the elevator trim until the elevator control no longer requires constant pressure to keep the airplane at the desired pitch angle.
- 3
  Readjust the elevator trim each and every time you need to readjust the pitch angle. With practice this will become second nature, and will greatly improve the accuracy of your flying.
- 4
  Readjust the elevator trim any time you change the flap setting. This is especially important during an approach to landing. With each notch of extended flaps, the aircraft will require a new pitch angle in order to maintain the same airspeed. Retriming is key to flying a smooth steady approach.
- 5
  Do not use trim in place of the elevator control to make small pitch adjustments. This leads to sloppy, inaccurate flying. Always adjust the elevator first, and then the trim.

Aviation