ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Aircraft flight control system

An aircraft flight control system is a set of special parts that help an airplane to move and fly through the sky properly. It is sort of like the steering wheel and pedals in a car, but it works a little differently.

The first part of the system is called the cockpit. That's where the pilots sit and control the airplane. They use special controls like a steering wheel, called a yoke, and pedals (just like in a car) to communicate with the aircraft. Computers inside the airplane then tell the airplane's parts what to do based on what the pilots ask for.

The second part of the system are called the control surfaces. These are like the moving parts of the airplane that allow it to turn or go up and down. The control surfaces include flaps, rudder, ailerons, and elevators. Flaps are special flaps on the wings that can move up or down to help the airplane take off and land safely. The rudder controls allow the airplane to turn to the left and right, and the ailerons help the airplane to bank, or tilt to the left or right. The elevators control allow the airplane to climb or descend.

The third and most important part of the system is called the automatic system. It's like a computer that controls the plane's flight. It works by collecting information from different sensors around the airplane to know exactly where the plane is and how it's moving.

All of these parts work together to make the airplane move the way the pilots want it to move. This makes flying safe, predictable and efficient.