Aileron vs. Elevator — What's the Difference?

Used to induce roll by creating differential lift on the wings.

Controlled via the forward and backward movement of the control yoke.

A hinged flight control surface on the wing of an aircraft.

A movable control surface located on the horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft.

Manipulated via the control stick in the cockpit.

Moves synchronously for coordinated pitch control.

Operates opposite to each other on each wing.

Controls the aircraft’s pitch to point the nose up or down.

Integral for maneuvering and stability in the air.

Essential for altitude control during flight.

An aileron (French for "little wing" or "fin") is a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll (or movement around the aircraft's longitudinal axis), which normally results in a change in flight path due to the tilting of the lift vector.

An elevator (North American English) or lift (Commonwealth English) is a type of cable-assisted, hydraulic cylinder-assisted, or roller-track assisted machine that vertically transports people or freight between floors, levels, or decks of a building, vessel, or other structure. They are typically powered by electric motors that drive traction cables and counterweight systems such as a hoist, although some pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston like a jack.

Either of two movable flaps on the wings of an airplane that can be used to control the plane's rolling and banking movements.

A platform or an enclosure raised and lowered in a vertical shaft to transport people or freight.

The hinged part on the trailing edge of an airplane wing, used to control longitudinal turns.

The enclosure or platform with its operating equipment, motor, cables, and accessories.

(architecture) A half gable, as at the end of a penthouse or of the aisle of a church.

A movable control surface, usually attached to the horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft, that is used to produce motion up or down.

A half gable, as at the end of a penthouse or of the aisle of a church.

A mechanism, often with buckets or scoops attached to a conveyor, used for hoisting materials.

A small plane or surface capable of being manipulated by the pilot of a flying machine to control lateral balance; a hinged wing tip; a lateral stabilizing or balancing plane.

See grain elevator.

An airfoil that controls lateral motion

Anything that raises or uplifts.

A permanent construction with a built-in platform or cab that can be raised and lowered, used to transport people and goods, as between different floors of a building.

A silo used for storing wheat, corn or other grain (grain elevator).

(aeronautics) A control surface of an aircraft responsible for controlling the pitching motion of the machine.

A dental instrument used to pry up ("elevate") teeth in difficult extractions, or depressed portions of bone.

(anatomy) Any muscle that serves to raise a part of the body, such as the leg or the eye.

A type of shoe having an insert lift to make the wearer appear taller.

One who, or that which, raises or lifts up anything.

A mechanical contrivance, usually an endless belt or chain with a series of scoops or buckets, for transferring grain to an upper loft for storage.

A cage or platform (called an elevator car) and the hoisting machinery in a hotel, warehouse, mine, etc., for conveying persons, goods, etc., to or from different floors or levels; - called in England a lift; the cage or platform itself.

A building for elevating, storing, and discharging, grain.

A muscle which serves to raise a part of the body, as the leg or the eye.

An instrument for raising a depressed portion of a bone.

A movable plane or group of planes used to control the altitude or fore-and-aft poise or inclination of an airship or flying machine.

Lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building

The airfoil on the tailplane of an aircraft that makes it ascend or descend

Ailerons are located on the trailing edges of the wings.

Elevators control the pitch of the aircraft, tilting the nose up or down.

Yes, they often work together during maneuvers like turns.

Pilots manipulate ailerons via the control stick in the cockpit.

Ailerons are used to control the roll of an aircraft.

Differential lift refers to the varying lift generated by the opposing movements of ailerons on each wing.

Raising elevators causes the aircraft to pitch up, increasing altitude.

When elevators move in unison, they uniformly change the pitch of the aircraft.

Elevators are lowered to tilt the nose down, facilitating descent.

Ailerons can be adjusted to counteract the rolling effect induced by crosswinds.

Lowering one aileron while raising the other causes the aircraft to roll in the direction of the lowered aileron.

Most modern aircraft are designed with redundant systems to ensure control even if one elevator fails.

Yes, both are external and clearly visible components of an aircraft.

Elevators are controlled by pushing or pulling the control yoke.

Yes, malfunctioning ailerons can significantly affect an aircraft’s ability to roll effectively.