Is there an airplane tail without a stabeliser?

Answer 1

Most airplanes have fixed tail surfaces known as either a horizontal stabilizer or vertical stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer has an attached moveable surface called an elevator while the vertical stabilizer has an attached moveable surface called a rudder. On certain airplane models, such as the Piper Cherokee or Cessna Cardinal, the entire horizontal tail is a one-piece surface that rotates and performs the function of both the horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Combining the words stabilizer and elevator, this type of control is known as a stabilator. Elevators, stabilators, and rudders, generally have another small moveable control piece on the trailing edge known as a trim tab. Most trim tabs can be adjusted by the pilot in flight to cause the control surface, to which it is attached, to stay slightly deflected in a particular direction, relieving the pilot of having to apply control forces during stabilized flight. Some trim tabs, such as rudder trim tabs on many small airplanes, must be adjusted on the ground and cannot be adjusted in flight.

Some airplane designs do not require any stabilizers or control surfaces on the tail. The canard design places a horizontal stabilizer and elevator, or a stabilator, near the front of the airplane and vertical stabilizers and rudders on the tips of the main wing. The main wing is located near the rear of the airplane. The canard design is more efficient in flight than a conventional airplane design, since both the wing and horizontal stabilizer produce lift in flight. In a conventional airplane design, with stabilizers on the tail, the horizontal stabilizer produces a downward force during flight to provide stability, reducing the overall efficiency.