Definition
An illusion of spatial disorientation in which the pilot feels the aircraft is moving or rotating in the opposite direction from what is actually occurring. It is caused by the inner ear's vestibular system adapting to a sustained turn or motion, so that when the motion stops or changes, the brain interprets the new sensation as movement in the reverse direction.
Plain English
A false feeling that the aircraft has started moving the opposite way to what it is really doing. The inner ear gets fooled, usually after a steady turn, so when the turn ends or changes, you feel like you're now turning the other way even though you aren't.
Context Anchor
Encountered in instrument flying and spatial disorientation discussions, especially when learning why body sensations can be unreliable without outside visual references.
Why Pilots Care
Reacting to the false sensation can cause incorrect control inputs and loss of aircraft control.
Analogy
It is like spinning in a chair and then stopping; for a moment, you may feel as if you are turning back the other way even though the chair has stopped.
Grounding Statement
The key point is that the sensed reversal is a false body signal, not proof that the aircraft actually reversed its motion.
Intuition Check
Do not assume reversal of motion means the aircraft actually changed direction. In this context, it means the pilot may feel an opposite motion that is not really happening.
Example Sentence 1
During the spatial disorientation demonstration, the instructor rolled out of a prolonged turn and the student immediately reported a strong reversal of motion, feeling as though the aircraft was now turning the other way.
Example Sentence 2
Trusting the instruments prevents a pilot from applying aileron in response to reversal of motion after a standard-rate turn.