How an Airliner Cockpit Works

Learn about every button, switch, knob, screen, lever, and control device in a modern airliner cockpit.

CREDITS
Jacob O'Neal - modeling, animation, texturing, vfx, music
Wesley O'Neal - research/writing

PATREON
Help us keep making videos:

PRIVATE WORK
Need 3D illustration and animation? Let's chat:

WEBSITE
See more explanations of how things work:

SOFTWARE USED
We use Blender 3D to create these models. It's free and open source, and the community is amazing:

Chapters
0:00 Intro
01:04 Seating
02:18 Sidestick
02:56 Steering
04:03 Rudder pedals
04:48 Control panels
07:17 Left inboard module
09:25 Right inboard module
11:04 Right outboard module
12:35 Lights overhead module
13:12 Glareshield
14:14 Radio and control tuning section
15:56 Flight pontrol panel
18:32 Main instrument panel
19:05 Landing gear and brakes
20:02 Center pedestal
21:52 Audio control panel
23:46 Trim control panel
24:10 Reversion switch panel
27:04 Throttle Quadrant Assembly
28:47 Outtro

Correction:
0:10 Before commenting, check the top pinned "VIDEO CORRECTIONS" thread.

[animagraffs]

VIDEO CORRECTIONS (compiled from viewer comments):

From Juan Pablo:
FCU (Autopilot) panel o. The glareshield. You have HDG 360 twice. The window on the right should read Altitude.

From The Beast:
the HDG display and IAS indicator on the right side of the flight control panel shown at 18:19 actually display desired altitude and VERTICAL speed respectively, not HDG and IAS

and at 27:33, the A/T DISC switch only disconnects the autothrottle, to reengage autothrottle you have to do so on the flight control pane

From Edward Long:
2: the flap handle is way too long, should be about 2 inched in length.

[Xiongfxs]

I am a CPT on B737 and this video allowed me to admire the technological advancement of a very new airliner A220. The B737 uses switches rather than push buttons and there are as much as tripple the amount!

This cockpit is very cozy and seems to be much easier to use for a new pilot.

You just got me at heated floormats :D

Great video! You should be paid for an instructing video by Airbus company.

[SSEF]

I literally feel like I’m robbing you watching this for free

[etaigabbai]

The amount of work/effort he puts in these videos are INSANE. like not even joking he puts more effort into these videos than any other channel I watch. Kudos to you man! Keep it up 💪

[nicholasmarino]

Hi, the pilots of these aircraft, deserve every penny of their pay check!!!! I am a private pilot, and some of these explanations lost me. Outstanding video!!!!

[Sweetthang]

Its crazy to think that most of these controls had very specific reasons for coming into existence....and that often included loss of

This is a supremely beautiful art piece made about a supremely beautiful art piece....I genuflect.

[DeLiverpool]

Extremely well done. This "tour of the flightdeck" is just beautiful.

[maverick.]

This is by far the best description video on the internet about airline cockpit.
Huge respect for the efforts you put to make this video.

[discoverlight]

Wow having this crazy amount of info available pretty mch for free is priceless, also the quality of the animations it's top-notch.

[LAVutube]

Wow ur really great.... This is the only cockpit video available in yt!

[diegom]

My jaw is on the floor, this is youtube and teaching at its best. If there is an award to be had, these videos should get the Oscar.

[avia]

Dude, this is becoming an addictive channel, I’m telling you!

[raydat]

Look I know I'm supposed to be more focused on the content but honestly your animations make everything 100x more interesting.

[Ukie]

Such a pleasing voice and speech delivery!

[Boneless_Chuck]

I was listening to the music as much as the VO. Seems like Jacob had to have a lot of varying ideas to keep everything from being over-repetitive. No small feat for a half-hour video. Incredible job all around!

[timharmsen]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the line "The EDM switch is not a special guarded switch to play electronic dance music for impromptu sky raves"? The inclusion of humour amid such a professionally crafted tutorial just made this 10/10 video even better. You've earned a lifetime of impromptu sky raves my man.

[SniPYo]

Damn we’re about to fly an airplane after this. Love the channel, it’s brilliant to learn for curious minds

[keithdmello]

I Fly the A220 and it was a pleasure to see you make this video of my office. Well done

[alpha_echo]

That eye-level red/white dot thing to optimize seating/viewing position is pretty clever!

[catthewondahokulea]

I love this video and thank you for teaching me about an aircraft! I hope you do a Helicopter next! Learning about the physics of flying is fun from your videos.