Definition
An attitude in which the airplane's nose is raised above the horizon relative to the longitudinal axis, increasing pitch angle. Used to describe pitch attitude, control inputs, or trim settings that raise the nose.
Plain English
The nose of the airplane is pointing upward compared to the horizon. It can describe how the airplane is sitting in the air, or a control movement that raises the nose.
Context Anchor
Seen when describing airplane attitude, control wheel movement, trim, takeoff, landing, and slow-flight handling.
Derivation
Compound term formed from 'nose' (forward extremity of the aircraft) and 'up' (direction above horizontal); the everyday spatial reference helps pilots visualize orientation without needing further technical breakdown.
Why Pilots Care
Controls airspeed, lift production, and stall margin during maneuvers.
Intuition Check
Nose-up does not automatically mean the airplane is climbing. It means the nose is angled upward or being moved upward; the airplane could still be slowing, leveling, or even descending.
Example Sentence 1
After takeoff, the pilot held a slight nose-up attitude to establish the desired climb speed.
Example Sentence 2
Excessive nose-up pitch on final approach reduced airspeed and increased stall risk.