Definition

Noun: A lever located in the cockpit of an airplane, operated by the pilot to control the aircraft's primary flight surfaces, specifically the ailerons (for roll) and elevators (for pitch).

Usage

The "control stick" is the primary manual control for maneuvering an aircraft. The pilot moves it forward and backward to control pitch (nose up/down) and side-to-side to control roll (banking left/right).

Examples

• The pilot pulled back on the control stick to make the airplane climb.
• During the turbulence, she maintained a firm grip on the control stick.
• In many fighter jets, the control stick is located to the side of the pilot instead of centrally.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on the stick": (Informal, aviation jargon) To be the one piloting the aircraft or to be actively and skillfully controlling it.
  • During the critical landing phase, the experienced captain was on the stick.
• The design and sensitivity of the control stick are critical factors in an aircraft's handling characteristics, often described as "stick feel."

Variants and Related Words

• Control Column / Yoke (n): A wheel-like or U-shaped control device that serves the same function as a control stick, commonly found in larger commercial aircraft.
• Joystick (n): The common term for a control stick in video games or simulators; also used informally for aircraft control sticks.
• Side-stick (n): A type of control stick mounted on the side console of the cockpit, as used in modern aircraft like the Airbus A320 family.
• Stick (n): A common abbreviation in aviation contexts (e.g., "Move the stick left").

Synonyms

• Joystick
• Flight stick
• Stick (abbreviated form)

Related Phrases

• "Stick and Rudder": A fundamental phrase in aviation referring to the basic manual controls (stick for ailerons/elevators, rudder pedals for yaw) and the skills needed to use them. It is also the title of a famous piloting textbook.
• "To throw the stick": (Jargon) To make a sudden, forceful control input.
  • He had to throw the stick to the left to recover from the spin.

Noun

1. a lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and elevators of an airplane