Which surface is deflected to change the aircraft's pitch during level flight?

• A. Rudder
• B. Aileron
• C. Flaps
• D. Elevator

Answer: (D)

Pitch is controlled by the elevator, the movable surface on the horizontal stabilizer. Deflecting the elevator changes the tail’s aerodynamics, creating a pitching moment that raises or lowers the nose. When you pull back on the control, the elevator trailing edge moves up and the nose pitches up; pushing forward lowers the nose. The other surfaces aren’t used for pitch in level flight: the rudder controls yaw, the ailerons control roll, and flaps mainly change lift and drag (often used during takeoff and landing, with only indirect effects on pitch). So the surface that directly changes the aircraft’s pitch attitude in level flight is the elevator.