What does elevon mean?
An elevon is a hinged control surface found on certain aircraft, most notably delta-wing designs and flying wings, where there is no separate horizontal stabilizer or conventional ailerons. The name is a blend of 'elevator' and 'aileron', reflecting its dual role: by moving symmetrically, the elevons raise or lower the aircraft's nose (pitch), while by moving differentially they bank the aircraft left or right (roll). Because one surface must serve two purposes, the pilot's control inputs are typically combined by a mixing unit or flight-control computer before reaching the elevons. The term belongs firmly to aviation engineering vocabulary, appearing in technical manuals, aerospace journalism, and the hobby world of radio-controlled aircraft rather than everyday speech.
nounA control surface on an aircraft, especially a delta-wing or flying-wing design, that combines the functions of an elevator and an aileron to control both pitch and roll.
- An aircraft control surface combining the functions of an elevator (pitch) and an aileron (roll), used chiefly on delta-wing and flying-wing aircraft.
"The pilot adjusted the elevons to pitch the aircraft's nose up during the steep climb."
"Because the flying wing had no separate tail, its elevons handled both pitch and roll."
"A flight-control computer mixes the pilot's stick inputs before commanding the elevons."
The plural is standard in practice because aircraft have elevons on each wing; the singular refers to one surface.
"Both elevons deflected upward to arrest the descent."
The word 'elevon' is a portmanteau cooked up by engineers — it literally smashes 'elevator' and 'aileron' into one flap that does two jobs at once.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of elevon
The word 'elevon' was coined in English in the mid-twentieth century as a portmanteau of 'elevator' and 'aileron', arising alongside the tailless and delta-wing aircraft that made such a combined surface necessary. Its components trace back further: 'elevator' derives from the Latin 'elevare', meaning to lift or raise, while 'aileron' comes from French 'aileron', a diminutive of 'aile' meaning wing, ultimately from Latin 'ala'.
How elevon is actually used
A technical term confined almost entirely to aviation and aerospace contexts; it appears rarely outside discussions of aircraft such as delta-wing fighters, flying wings like the B-2 bomber, and radio-controlled model aircraft.
Easily confused with elevon
An aileron controls roll only, whereas an elevon combines the roll function of an aileron with the pitch function of an elevator in a single surface.
An elevator controls pitch only and sits on the horizontal tailplane of conventional aircraft, while an elevon serves as both elevator and aileron on tailless designs.