The cockpit is where the flight is flown. On a modern airliner it holds two pilots, a wall of displays, and hundreds of switches. On a small trainer it holds one seat, a few analogue gauges, and a lot of legroom by comparison.

Layout follows function. Primary flight instruments sit directly in front of each pilot. Engine and system displays occupy the centre panel. Communication and navigation radios sit between or above. Everything critical is reachable without looking away for long.

Common cockpit sections

• Instrument panel with flight displays
• Centre console with radios and thrust levers
• Overhead panel with systems switches
• Side consoles with additional controls

Ergonomics matter more than appearance. A switch in the wrong place can be flipped by accident during turbulence, so designers group and shape controls to prevent errors.