Overview
An aileron is a hinged flight control surface, usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing on a fixed-wing aircraft, used in pairs to control the aircraft's roll around its longitudinal axis. Rolling the aircraft in this way tilts the lift vector, which in turn changes the aircraft's flight path, making ailerons one of the three primary flight control surfaces alongside the elevator and rudder. A long-running legal and historical dispute exists over who actually invented the aileron, since the Wright brothers' 1906 patent covered wing-warping for lateral control rather than hinged ailerons directly, though courts ultimately found that Glenn Curtiss's use of ailerons infringed on the Wright patent. Modern aircraft continue to use ailerons in essentially the same configuration established in the early 20th century, though many modern airliners also incorporate spoilers to assist with roll control at high speeds.
History
The aileron's origins are tied up in one of aviation's most significant patent disputes: the Wright brothers' 1906 patent covered wing-warping for lateral control, a flexible-wing approach distinct from the rigid hinged ailerons that became standard on later aircraft. Glenn Curtiss's use of hinged ailerons led to a years-long legal battle, with courts ultimately ruling in the Wrights' favor on several occasions before World War I compelled the US government to legislate a resolution to unlock aircraft production for the war effort. Hinged ailerons quickly became the standard lateral control method industry-wide once the legal disputes settled, replacing wing-warping almost entirely by the 1920s. The basic aileron configuration established in this early period has remained largely unchanged in principle for over a century, even as materials and actuation systems have evolved considerably.
Design & Specifications
Ailerons are hinged panels on the outer trailing edge of each wing, mechanically or electronically linked so they move in opposite directions when the pilot commands roll.
Operations
Pilots deflect ailerons via the control column or sidestick, banking the aircraft to initiate and control turns in coordination with rudder input.
References
| Category | Aerodynamics & Aircraft Anatomy |
| Type | Roll control surface |
| Location | Wing trailing edge |
| Patent Dispute | Wright brothers vs. Curtiss |
| Status | Standard on fixed-wing aircraft |