THE RUDDER PEDALS
These pedals operate three controls, the nose wheel steering and rudder by pushing on the lower to mid part of the pedal and the brakes by pushing on the top of the pedal. The top half of the left pedal operates the brake on the left main wheel and the top half of the right pedal operates the brake on the right wheel. While the aircraft is taxying the nose wheel steering is used in conjunction with the toe brakes to steer the aircraft. The most common use of the rudder is just before take off and just after touch down when there is a wind blowing across the runway. The rudder is used to keep the aircraft on a straight path whilst the nose wheel is not in contact with the surface. All the time the nose wheel is raised from the surface, all steering through the wheels is lost. While in the air the rudder is used in conjunction with the ailerons to turn the aircraft, although with many modern light aircraft very little rudder input is required during the turn. To prevent yaw, (the nose of the aircraft swinging to the left or right), some rudder input may also be required during straight and level flight, particularly as the power setting is altered.