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Roll is used to change the airplane’s heading, or direction of flight. One example of how this is used is a banking turn. The turn begins by using the ailerons to roll the airplane to one side or the other, this is also called banking. As long as the airplane in banked, the direction of the force of lift is tilted in the direction of the roll, causing the airplane to change its heading. Once the wings are made level again, the plane will fly in a straight line again.