
In aviation, rotation refers to the action of applying back pressure to a control device, such as a
yoke
A yoke is a wooden beam sometimes used between a pair of oxen or other animals to enable them to pull together on a load when working in pairs, as oxen usually do; some yokes are fitted to individual animals. There are several types of yoke, u ...
,
side-stick
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A side-stick or sidestick controller is an aircraft control stick that is located on the side console of the pilot, usually on the righthand side, or outboard on a two-seat flightdeck. Typically this is found in aircraft that are equipp ...
or
centre stick
A centre stick (or center stick in the United States), or simply control stick is an aircraft cockpit arrangement where the control column (or joystick) is located in the center of the cockpit between the pilots or between the pilot's legs. Sin ...
, to lift the nose wheel off the ground during
takeoff
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle leaves the ground and becomes airborne. For aircraft traveling vertically, this is known as liftoff.
For aircraft that take off horizontally, this usually involves starting with a ...
. The aircraft rotates around its
lateral axis
Aircraft flight control surfaces are aerodynamic devices allowing a pilot to adjust and control the aircraft's flight attitude.
Development of an effective set of flight control surfaces was a critical advance in the development of aircraft. Ea ...
. Rotation is begun at the speed known as
VR. Rotation at the correct speed and to the correct angle is important for safety reasons and to decrease takeoff distance.
After rotation, the aircraft continues to accelerate until it reaches its liftoff speed
VLO, at which point it leaves the
runway
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft". Runways may be a man-made surface (often asphalt concrete, as ...
. Over-rotation can cause a
tailstrike
In aviation, a tailstrike or tail strike occurs when the tail or empennage of an aircraft strikes