Slightly off-topic. I remember when I was heavily involved with RC slope-soaring gliders. Someone came out with the idea of rotating the complete wings for lateral control rather than use ailerons. Similar to the tailplanes on the fly-by-wire fighters. The plans were published in one of the model magazines. Apparently it worked very well although I never tried it myself.

I'm sure there were drawbacks even on a simple model. I don't recall what these were now. The main fulcrums would have to very strong on a real aircraft.  It would be very sensitive & most likely prone to flutter, especially at high speeds. Then there are things like the gear & flaps to consider, not to mention swing-wings & stuff like that. I'm sure the idea is not practical.

Before we go back on topic I have seen an aircraft where the complete wingtips rotate as I described. I can't remember what it is now. ???

No it was a fixed-wing aircraft. Maybe the F-4 Phantom?

Hmmmm Well here is another reply from a rudder stomper from the school of hard knocks

The Question was ...the single most individual advance in flight in the last 100 years...

My Reply:  The very next post after this one!!!!!

Aviation, the theory of flight like medicine, like all other good things grows and alters daily, even hourly sometimes.

Take the thread aviation....it goes way back before the Wright Flyer flew....but the dream was still there...and it grew and it grew and it grew through peace and war.
It's still growing....the invention of the swept wing was no more important than mineral or vegetable based hydraulic fluids.

To me the single most individual advance in flight is the next post BECAUSE  we are all equal, we share the same interests, Aviation, without the next post or the one after or the one after that an idea, a dream could be lost.

Happy Landings....Cheers...Doug

Well in 100 years, I geuss there have been so many, from the wing warping that the Wright bros. came up with,( which was quite cool what made Orville think of it, as he sold someone a bicycle tube he noticed the way the box it comes in twisted as he opened it, that's when the way to do it came to him.) to the turbine engine.

But I have to say that the "Flying tail" that was a direct result of the X-1 test program. Which allowed the sound barrier to be broken, and which from then on all jet fighter craft were incorperated with.

Nope In fact the swept wing design didnt come along till after the X-1, and even the the X-1A brought about the swept wing too, along with the flying tail.