Which control surface is primarily used to change the aircraft's pitch?

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

Answer: (B)

Pitch is controlled by rotating the nose up or down, which is achieved primarily with the elevator on the horizontal stabilizer. Deflecting the elevator changes the tail’s lift and creates a pitching moment that raises or lowers the nose, defining the aircraft’s attitude in flight.

The rudder moves the aircraft left or right about the vertical axis, producing yaw rather than sustained pitch. The ailerons control roll about the longitudinal axis, creating bank and turn rather than a direct nose-up or nose-down maneuver. Flaps change lift and drag to aid takeoff and landing; they can subtly affect pitch moment, but they are not the primary surface for pitching the aircraft.