I guess you can think of it like so: 1. The confuser commands a nose down trim, this means that the leading edge of the tailplane is raised. In actuality, this

I guess you can think of it like so: 1. The confuser commands a nose down trim, this means that the leading edge of the tailplane is raised. In actuality, this represents a decreased angle of attack (think of tailplane as a upside-down wing). 2. Pilots haul back with all their might. This means that the elevators (the trailing control surfaces at the trailing end of the tailplane) deflect upwards in order to increase the angle of attack and create more "downforce" from the tail, raising the nose. 3. Think of the trimmable tailplane [1] as moving around a pivot. In reality it is a jackscrew/hinge combination. 4. The elevator deflections (the intuitive response) "creates a twisting force" the tailplane around the "pivot point" and against the desired direction that you want the trim to travel. 5. Unload the elevator pressure to make it easier to trim it. The key is that elevator deflections, despite intuitive are not sufficient. Luckily, it is a trained manoeuvre. [1] https://i.stack.imgur.com/9RQY4.jpg https://i.stack.imgur.com/9RQY4.jpg Note the UP and DOWN markings on the airplane's skin.