Horizontal and Vertical Stabilizer Parts - Complete List

Horizontal and Vertical Stabilizer Parts

Stabilizers are aerodynamic surfaces, typically including movable control surfaces, that provide longitudinal and directional stability and control for an aircraft. In a conventional aircraft design, these stabilizers are located on the aircraft’s tail. 

Horizontal Stabilizers

A horizontal stabilizer is designed to keep the aircraft in longitudinal balance, or trim. By exerting a vertical force, the stabilizer ensures that any change in the aircraft’s center of gravity is zero, which maintains a consistent and level flight. Horizontal stabilizers also provide longitudinal static stability, which is the tendency of an aircraft to return to the trimmed condition if disturbed. On a conventional aircraft, horizontal stabilizers take the form of elevators, which are control surfaces on the tail of the aircraft. If the entire tail is movable, the whole assembly serves as a control surface. Alternative designs, like the canard configuration, also exist. In a canard aircraft, a small wing, or foreplane, is located in front of the main wing, and serves a role in stabilizing the aircraft.

Vertical Stabilizers

A vertical stabilizer provides directional or yaw stability to the aircraft to keep the aircraft’s nose, and therefore the direction of the entire aircraft, pointed in the pilot’s intended direction. The vertical stabilizer is comprised of a fixed fin and a movable rudder hinged to its trailing edge. Like on the tail, some aircraft have no hinged rudder and simply move the entire fin to provide stability and control.

In most cases, an aircraft without a tail is impossible to maneuver. Some designs, such as the B-2 bomber, use differential air braking to affect the aircraft’s drag and provide yaw control.