• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Flight Mechanic

Aircraft Mechanic School Study Supplement for Future Aviation Maintenance Technicians




  • Home
  • AMT Training
    • Basic Aviation Maintenance
    • Airframes
    • Powerplants
  • AMT Schools
  • AMT Books
  • Tip Jar
You are here: Home / Airframe / Aircraft Structures / Empennage
Regretfully, Flight-Mechanic will be turning out the lights after fifteen years. Google, in its infinite wisdom, has chosen to remove Flight-Mechanic from its search results (the claim is that the content on this site is spam). We appealed their decision to shut us down, to no avail.

Unfortunately, since Google has a monopoly over internet search, this means that traffic levels on the site will drop to a level that makes maintaining it uneconomic. As time progresses, we will no longer be able to maintain the server space and will remove the site from the internet. Thanks to all who have supported us over the years.

To fight back against the monopolistic practices of companies like Google, we recommend using a competing search engine such as Brave (you get the added benefit of not being spied on by Big Tech) and advocating for anti-trust legislation from your representatives.

Empennage

Filed Under: Aircraft Structures

The empennage of an aircraft is also known as the tail section. Most empennage designs consist of a tail cone, fixed aerodynamic surfaces or stabilizers, and movable aerodynamic surfaces.

The tail cone serves to close and streamline the aft end of most fuselages. The cone is made up of structural members like those of the fuselage; however, cones are usually of lighter construction since they receive less stress than the fuselage. [Figure 1-46]

Figure 1-46. The fuselage terminates at the tail cone with similar but more lightweight construction.
Figure 1-46. The fuselage terminates at the tail cone with similar but more lightweight construction.

The other components of the typical empennage are of heavier construction than the tail cone. These members include fixed surfaces that help stabilize the aircraft and movable surfaces that help to direct an aircraft during flight. The fixed surfaces are the horizontal stabilizer and vertical stabilizer. The movable surfaces are usually a rudder located at the aft edge of the vertical stabilizer and an elevator located at the aft edge the horizontal stabilizer. [Figure 1-47]

Figure 1-47. Components of a typical empennage.
Figure 1-47. Components of a typical empennage.

The structure of the stabilizers is very similar to that which is used in wing construction. Figure 1-48 shows a typical vertical stabilizer. Notice the use of spars, ribs, stringers, and skin like those found in a wing. They perform the same functions shaping and supporting the stabilizer and transferring stresses. Bending, torsion, and shear created by air loads in flight pass from one structural member to another. Each member absorbs some of the stress and passes the remainder on to the others. Ultimately, the spar transmits any overloads to the fuselage. A horizontal stabilizer is built the same way.

Figure 1-48. Vertical stabilizer.
Figure 1-48. Vertical stabilizer.

The rudder and elevator are flight control surfaces that are also part of the empennage discussed in the next section.

Flight Mechanic Recommends

Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook -Flight Literacy recommends Rod Machado's products because he takes what is normally dry and tedious and transforms it with his characteristic humor, helping to keep you engaged and to retain the information longer. (see all of Rod Machado's Products).
   
-->

Primary Sidebar

SEARCH FLIGHT MECHANIC

SEARCH FLIGHT MECHANIC

Aircraft Mechanic Training

Basic Aviation Maintenance

Powerplants

Airframes

Popular Posts

Aircraft Mechanic Salary

Aircraft Mechanic Schools

Aircraft Mechanic Requirements

Aircraft Flight Training

Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Easy Campfire Recipes | Recipe Workbook



Copyright © 2023 Flight-Mechanic.com