The elevator is on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer, near the rear of the aircraft by the vertical stabilizer. The elevator is used to increase or decrease the aircraft's angle of attack or the pitch of the aircraft.

The elevator is controlled using a push/pull motion on the yoke. Pushing the yoke forward causes the elevator to angle down and push the tail of the airplane upward causing the nose to point downward. Pulling back on the yoke the elevator angles up and pushes the tail of the airplane downward causing the nose to point upward. Refer to the video at the left for a visual demonstration.

When the elevator is moved, airflow over the horizontal stabilizer is directed in the appropriate direction to point the nose up or down. The force of the air pushing on the tilted elevator is what causes the aircraft to change in pitch.