Aileron reversal is reduced / aggravated by

• A. Reduced by inboard ailerons
• B. Increased by outboard ailerons
• C. Winglets alone
• D. Rudder effectiveness only

Answer: (A)

Aileron reversal is an aeroelastic effect where twisting of the wing under roll interacts with the aileron deflection to produce a roll in the opposite direction or a reduced roll moment. When you deflect an aileron, you not only change lift locally, but the wing also twists along its span. If the twist reduces the local angle of attack where the aileron is, the intended lift differential can be diminished or even reversed, especially on a highly flexible wing.

Placing the ailerons inboard, closer to the wing root, keeps the control surfaces on a stiffer portion of the wing with less torsional deformation. This minimizes the adverse twist effect and reduces the tendency for reversal, so the aircraft responds more as expected to aileron input. Winglets mainly affect induced drag and tip vortices and don’t address aeroelastic twist, while rudder effectiveness relates to yaw, not roll via wing twist.