The present invention provides a flight control system and method for various models of aircraft, including thin-winged, long range, transonic and low supersonic aircraft, and may be beneficial on supersonic and hypersonic aircraft as well. One embodiment of the flight control system comprises a plurality of lifters for generating lift or drag, the plurality of lifters mechanically associated with a lower surface of each wing in a pair of wings. During operation, the lifters may be selectively deployed alone or in combination with other flight control devices, such as ailerons and spoilers, to provide various operative benefits such as improved roll control, speed braking functionality, and maneuver load alleviation.