Which control surface is primarily used to yaw the aircraft?

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

Answer: (C)

Yaw is rotation about the vertical axis, so the surface that provides the primary side-to-side force on the tail is the rudder. Located on the vertical stabilizer, the rudder deflects air to create a sideways force that swings the nose left or right. When you press a rudder pedal, the rudder moves and generates the yaw moment needed to point the aircraft in the desired direction, help compensate for crosswinds, and keep the flight path coordinated in turns. The ailerons control roll (banking the wings), the elevator controls pitch (nose up or down), and flaps mainly change lift and drag for takeoff and landing, not yaw.