How to Use the Rudder on an Airplane

Using the rudder to coordinate a turn

• 1

  Use the rudder together with the ailerons to coordinate turns. Unlike a boat, which moves in two dimensions, an airplane moves in three dimensions. When turning, a plane must bank as well as yaw. If both types of movement are not done in even proportions, the turn is said to be uncoordinated. This means that turn will be imprecise, inefficient, and noticeably uncomfortable for any passengers onboard.

• 2

  Initiate a turn by moving the ailerons in the desired direction of movement. This will cause the aircraft to bank to one side and to begin turning. Once the desired bank angle is reached, apply rudder in the direction of the turn in order to keep the aircraft's nose in line with the rate of turn.The challenge is in determining the amount of rudder needed. If too much rudder is applied, the nose will move faster than the rate of turn. Pilots refer to this condition as "skidding," because that is exactly what it feels like to your passengers. If not enough rudder is applied, the the nose will lag behind the rate of turn. This is also undesireable. Experienced pilots can usually judge intuitively how much rudder to apply based on visual and physical sensationsl. However, there is an instrument in the cockpit that makes it possible to know precisely how much rudder to use, even if your are in a cloud. The instrument is called a turn and bank indicator.

• 3

  Always use the turn and bank indicator for judging your turns. It will allow you to make consistently smooth and efficient even in gusty or cloudy conditions. This instrument consists of two inicators, a needle which displays the rate of turn, and a metal ball suspended in liquid. The ball will be centered when a turn is properly coordinated. If a turn is uncoordinated, the ball will deviate to one side or the other. When you see the ball shift away from center, apply more rudder in the direction of the ball's deviation. You should immediately see the ball move closer to the center in response to your input.

Other common uses for the rudder

• 4

  Use the rudder to initiate a spin. During training exercises, students are taught to put the aircraft into a spin, and then to recover from this condition. To initiate a spin, pull back on the elevators until the wings stall. Then immediately apply full rudder in the desired direction of the spin.

• 5

  Use the rudder during the final stages of landing in a crosswind. In a crosswind approach, the nose of the plane will be pointed away from center of the runway until moments before touchdown. When this happens the rudder is used to snap the nose back in line with the runway at the last second.

• 6

  Use the rudder during approach, to perform a side slip. This is handy when you realise that you are too high and you need to quickly get rid of excess altitude without gaining speed. The solution is to use a maneuver called a "sideslip". This is accomplished by banking the aircraft in one direction with the ailerons, and at the same time applying the rudder in the opposite direction. When the controls are crossed in this manner, it creates a lot of extra drag and also destroys some of the lift created by the wings. As a result you will descend much faster.