Rotation (aeronautics)

In aviation, rotation refers to the action of applying back pressure to a control device, such as a yoke, side-stick or centre stick, to lift the nose wheel off the ground during takeoff.

[1] After rotation, the aircraft continues to accelerate until it reaches its liftoff speed VLO, at which point it leaves the runway.

The main and nose-gear leg lengths are chosen to give a negative angle of attack relative to the ground.

This ensures the wing will have negative lift until the pilot rotates the aircraft to a positive angle of attack.

During landing, the reverse happens when the nose-wheel touches the runway and the wing assumes a negative angle of attack with no lift.