The Glider's Controls

A glider has 3 main controls. The elevator and the ailerons, both operated by the control column or 'stick' and the rudder, operated by foot pedals.

Moving the stick forward caused the nose of the glider to go down, which in turn will make the glider fly faster. Moving the stick backwards raises the nose of the glider, slowing it. If the nose is raised too much, the speed reduces to a point at which the wings stop producing the lift needed to support the glider. This is a stall. Unless the controls are badly handled the nose of the glider drops, its speed increases and the wings produce lift again and the glider flies normally. The pilot is trained how to recognise the approaching stall and how to avoid it.

Moving the stick to the right causes the glider to roll or 'bank' to the right and moving the stick to the left causes the glider to roll to the left. In a similar way pressing the right rudder pedal swings or 'yaws' the nose of the glider to the right and left if the left pedal is pressed.

Turning the glider involves rolling the glider, stopping the roll at the desired angle of bank and at the same time yawing the glider in the same direction. This tends to make the nose of the glider drop slightly and so the stick is moved back slightly to prevent this. All 3 controls are used to turn the glider and this is the fundamental manoeuvre trainee pilots have to master.

A 4th control, the spoilers or air brakes, are operated by another handle, separate from the stick. These 'spoil' the lift generated by the glider wings making it descend more steeply. This allows the pilot to position the glider accurately when landing. The very flat angle of the normal glide would make landing difficult, particularly if landing over any obstructions such as trees or hedges.