Plain English Meaning

Pushing one rudder pedal all the way to the floor so the rudder swings as far as it will go.

Full Definition

Application of the rudder pedal to its full mechanical travel in the desired direction, producing the maximum rudder deflection the airplane is designed to allow.

Context Anchor

Used in spin entry descriptions, where the pilot may be told to apply full rudder in the direction of the intended spin.

Derivation

Rudder comes from an old word for a steering oar used on boats. That helps because an airplane rudder also steers direction, but it does it in the air by moving the nose left or right around the vertical axis.

Why Pilots Care

Full rudder creates the strong needed to enter a spin or to stop during ; insufficient often prevents a spin or delays recovery.