Definition
A trim setting in which the trim tab on the elevator is adjusted so that the elevator is held in a slightly raised position, producing a nose-up pitching tendency and relieving the back-pressure the pilot would otherwise have to hold on the control yoke or stick.
Plain English
Trim adjusted so the airplane wants to pitch nose-up on its own, so the pilot doesn't have to keep pulling back on the controls.
Context Anchor
Encountered in steep turns, where the pilot may need extra nose-up control force to maintain altitude.
Derivation
Elevator' refers to the movable surface on the tail that controls pitch. 'Trim' comes from the Old English 'trymman,' meaning to set in order or balance. Together: balancing the elevator so it stays slightly raised without pilot input.
Why Pilots Care
Correct elevator-up trim prevents control pressure buildup that leads to altitude loss or pilot fatigue in sustained steep turns.
Intuition Check
Do not read elevator-up trim as simply “the elevator is up now.” It means the trim is set to help create or hold a nose-up control force.
Example Sentence 1
Before rolling into the steep turn, the pilot added a small amount of elevator-up trim to help hold altitude without straining against the yoke.
Example Sentence 2
After rolling out of the steep turn the pilot removes the elevator-up trim to restore neutral control feel in level flight.