➢ The stabilizer is a fixed-wing section whose

job is to provide stability for the aircraft.

➢ controls movement about ____ axes……

[taught in Chapter-6]
 Horizontal Stabilizer (HS)

• It is a fixed or adjustable surface from which an elevator is hinged.

• In jet aircrafts, the entire horizontal stabilizer rotates & functions as an elevator. This combination is called ‘Stabilator’.

• Aircrafts with an adjustable HS have it (HS) hinged so that its setting (angle of incidence) can be altered during flight.
• The resulting stabilizer speed is known as the trim speed.
• In aircrafts with fixed HS, a trim tab on the trailing edge of the elevator is used to alter the aircraft’s trim speed.
• The F-28 Sabre first used a fixed HS & elevators with a trim tab, but later versions used adjustable HS.

• Structure:
• The internal structure consists of 2 main spars which extend the full length of the span.
• At the rear is an auxilary spar to which 4 hinges are riveted to provide for installation of the elevators.
• The principal structural members are spars & ribs.
• The outside is covered with sheet Al alloy, which transmits the loads.

Vertical Stabilizer (VS) / Fin

• VS is the section forward of the rudder.

• The construction of VS is almost similar to that of HS.
• It may be constructed as an integral part of the fuselage.
• The rear part is provided with hinges for the support of the rudder.
• The rudder is attached to the back of the VS.
➢ The rudder is attached to the back of the VS. During flight, it is used to move the nose left & right.
➢ The elevator is attached to the back of the HS. It is used to move the nose up & down.

➢ Trim tabs are small & movable portions of the trailing edge of the control surface.
➢ The trim tabs are controlled from the flight deck & these reduce control pressures.
➢ Trim tabs may be installed on ailerons/rudder/elevators.

Stabilator:

➢ In jet aircrafts, the entire horizontal stabilizer rotates & functions as an elevator. This combination is called ‘Stabilator’.
➢ It is moved using the control wheel. When the pilot pulls back on the control wheel, the stabilator pivots & so the
trailing edge moves up.
➢ This increases the aerodynamic tail load & causes the nose to move up.
➢ Stabilators have an antiservo tab extending across their trailing edge.
➢ The antiservo tab moves in the same direction as the trailing edge of the stabilator & helps make the stabilator less
sensitive.
➢ It also functions as a trim tab to relieve control pressures & helps maintain the stabilator in the desired position.