Vertical stabilizer
From Freepedia
The vertical stabilizer of an aircraft is found on its tail, generally pointing straight upward. It is also known as the vertical tail, and is part of an aircraft's empennage. The trailing end of the stabilizer is typically movable, and called the rudder; this allows the aircraft to yaw. Often navigational radios have their antennas placed on or in the vertical tail. In some aircraft, the vertical stabilizer houses the engine; the Lockheed L-1011, McDonnell Douglas DC-10, McDonnell Douglas MD-11, Boeing 727, Tupolev Tu-154, and the Yakovlev Yak-40 are all examples of this arrangement.
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Types of vertical stabilizers
Conventional tail
The tail is configured vertically, and the horizontal stabilizer is directly to the empennage.
T-tail
The horizontal stabilizer is mounted at the top of the tail. In this case, the vertical must accommodate the controls and motors for pitch and trim.
Cruciform tail
Arranged like a cross, the horizontal stabilizer intersects the vertical tail somewhere near the middle.
Twin tail
Rather than a single vertical stabilizer, there are two. These are vertically arranged, and intersect or are mounted to the ends of the horizontal stabilizer.
V-tail
A V-tail has no distinct vertical or horizontal stabilizers. Rather, they are merged into control surfaces known as ruddervators which control both pitch and yaw. The arrangement looks like a V, and is also known as a butterfly tail.
