Ruddervators

Description

A V-Tail aircraft design incorporates two slanted tail surfaces instead of the horizontal and vertical fins of a conventional aircraft empennage. The two fixed tail surfaces act as both horizontal and vertical stabilisers and each has a moveable flight control surface referred to a ruddervator. These ruddervators perform the combined functions of both a rudder and an elevator.

When the pilot moves the control column forward or aft, the ruddervators move symmetrically in the same manner as a conventional elevator. Conversely, when the rudder pedals are displaced, the ruddervator surfaces move differentially to emulate the movement of a conventional rudder. when both the rudder pedals and the control column are moved simultaneously, an incorporated mixing mechanism moves each surface an appropriate amount.