AFOQT Practice Test

What is indicated by the lateral axis of an aircraft?

1. Runs from the nose to the tail

2. Runs from wingtip to wingtip

3. Runs diagonally across the wings

4. Runs vertically through the fuselage

The correct answer is: Runs from wingtip to wingtip

The lateral axis of an aircraft is the horizontal line that runs from wingtip to wingtip. This axis is crucial for understanding the aircraft's movement, specifically regarding roll and bank angles during flight maneuvers. When an aircraft rolls, it rotates along this lateral axis, which is fundamental to maintaining balance and control in flight. The options that describe other axes such as the longitudinal axis, which runs from the nose to the tail, and the vertical axis, which runs vertically through the fuselage, refer to different aspects of how an aircraft operates and maneuvers in three-dimensional space. The diagonal alignment described in some options does not accurately represent any of the main axes used to describe an aircraft’s rotational movements.