Description

A stabilator, sometimes referred to as an all-moving tail, is a fully movable aircraft horizontal stabilizer. In this type of installation, the entire horizontal tail surface is responsive to pilot control wheel or control stick inputs. This is in contrast to the more common elevator control movement associated with both a fixed or a trimmable horizontal stabilizer. Stabilators are most commonly found on high speed military combat aircraft where they are used to enhance manoeuvrability and to eliminate the mach tuck caused by shock wave formation behind the elevator hinge line of a conventional tail. Stabilators are also installed in some light, general aviation aircraft.