Definition
A control cable that runs from the trim wheel or trim control in the cockpit to the trim mechanism on the tail, transmitting the pilot's trim inputs to the adjustable stabilizer or trim tab so the aircraft can be set to fly hands-off at a chosen attitude.
Plain English
A steel cable that connects the trim wheel in the cockpit to the part of the tail that holds the airplane in a steady pitch, so you don't have to keep pushing or pulling on the controls.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight control system descriptions, preflight or maintenance discussions, and adjustable stabilizer systems where a cockpit trim control changes the stabilizer position.
Derivation
Trim comes from an old English word meaning to set in proper order or balance, originally used on ships for adjusting sails and cargo. A trim cable is the cable that carries that balancing input from the cockpit to the tail.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains balanced flight with minimal control input; a broken or seized trim cable forces the pilot to hold continuous pressure, raising workload and fatigue.
Analogy
It works like the cable on a bicycle brake: moving the handle in one place pulls a cable that makes something move somewhere else.
Intuition Check
“Trim” does not mean decoration or cutting something here. It means adjusting the airplane so it takes less effort to hold the desired nose position; the trim cable is the part that carries that adjustment.
Example Sentence 1
During the preflight inspection, the mechanic checked the trim cable tension to make sure the trim wheel was moving the stabilizer the correct amount.
Example Sentence 2
During the preflight walk-around the mechanic checked the trim cable for fraying where it passed through the fuselage fairleads.