Definition
A horizontal bar used as the primary flight control on a weight-shift control aircraft (such as a trike or hang glider), gripped by the pilot and pushed or pulled to shift the aircraft's weight relative to the wing, thereby changing pitch and roll attitude.
Plain English
A bar the pilot holds onto and moves to steer a weight-shift aircraft. Instead of moving control surfaces like ailerons or elevators, the pilot uses the bar to shift their body weight under the wing, and the aircraft tilts and turns in response.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of how weight-shift-control aircraft move around their axes.
Why Pilots Care
It provides direct, intuitive control of attitude in aircraft without conventional yokes or sticks, directly affecting flight path and safety.
Grounding Statement
Picture the pilot hanging below the wing and holding a bar; moving the bar changes how the wing and the aircraft’s weight line up.
Intuition Check
Do not picture a control bar as just a grab handle. In this context, it is a primary flight control that changes the aircraft’s motion.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor demonstrated how pushing the control bar forward raises the nose of the trike.
Example Sentence 2
By shifting the control bar to the left, the trike rolled into a coordinated turn.