What is adverse yaw in aviation?

Adverse yaw refers to the phenomenon where an aircraft yaws, or rotates, in the opposite direction of a turn. This occurs primarily due to the way ailerons function during a roll. When an aircraft turns, the aileron on the wing that is rising (the up aileron) moves down and creates more lift, while the aileron on the wing that is lowering (the down aileron) moves up and creates less lift. The increase in drag on the wing with the down aileron (the one that is creating less lift) results in the aircraft yawing away from the direction of the turn.

In this context, understanding adverse yaw is crucial for pilots, as it affects the coordination of a turn and requires appropriate use of rudder input to counteract the yawing tendency and maintain a balanced turn. This insight into how lift and drag interact during maneuvers is fundamental to mastering aircraft handling and improving flight safety.