What primary flight control is responsible for roll?

The primary flight control responsible for roll is the ailerons. Ailerons are located on the outer part of each wing, and when the pilot moves the control yoke or stick left or right, the ailerons move in opposite directions—one aileron goes up while the other goes down. This differential movement changes the lift distribution across the wings, allowing the aircraft to roll to the left or right.

In turning or banking maneuvers, the roll initiated by the ailerons is crucial for altering the aircraft's flight path. Understanding the role of ailerons is fundamental for pilots, as roll affects the aircraft's orientation and contributes to coordinated turns. The other primary flight controls—such as elevators, which control pitch, and the rudder, which manages yaw—serve different functions and do not directly influence roll. Trim tabs serve to reduce the control force needed to maintain a stable flight attitude but do not themselves initiate a roll.