What relates to yaw in an aircraft?

Yaw refers to the rotation of an aircraft around its vertical axis. This axis runs from the top of the aircraft to the bottom and is perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral axes. When we talk about yaw, we are referring to the aircraft’s ability to turn left or right, which is typically controlled by the rudder.

Understanding that yaw relates to the vertical axis is crucial for grasping how aircraft maneuver in flight. The other axes—longitudinal and lateral—are associated with different types of rotations; the longitudinal axis relates to roll (rotation around the front-to-back axis), while the lateral axis pertains to pitch (rotation around the side-to-side axis). Knowing these distinctions helps establish a clear picture of how aircraft control surfaces interact during flight maneuvers.