Definition
Rudder pressure applied in the direction opposite to an aircraft's yaw or rotation. In spin recovery, it refers to firmly applying full rudder against the direction of spin rotation to stop the yaw that sustains the spin.
Plain English
Pushing the rudder pedal on the side opposite to the way the airplane is turning or spinning, in order to stop that turning.
Context Anchor
Used in stall and spin training, especially during the spin recovery steps in the Airplane Flying Handbook.
Derivation
“Opposite” means facing or acting against something. “Rudder” comes from an old word for a steering oar on a boat; on an airplane, the rudder controls the nose’s left-right movement. Together, “opposite rudder” means using the rudder against the airplane’s unwanted rotation.
Why Pilots Care
Correct opposite rudder stops the spin rotation, allowing the pilot to break the stall and recover without excessive altitude loss.
Intuition Check
Opposite rudder does not mean “opposite the direction you want to fly.” In spin recovery, it means rudder opposite the actual direction the airplane is rotating.
Example Sentence 1
When the airplane entered the spin to the left, the pilot applied full opposite rudder to stop the rotation.
Example Sentence 2
Holding opposite rudder until the airplane stops spinning prevents the rotation from continuing into a secondary spin.