What are the stabilators and where are they located?

• A. Deflect asymmetrically to produce roll and are located on the tailplane.
• B. Deflect symmetrically to produce pitch motion and asymmetrically to produce roll motion; located on either side of the tail.
• C. They provide hydraulic pressure to the primary flight controls.
• D. Located on the wing tips.

Answer: (B)

Stabilators are the two all-moving horizontal tail surfaces at the tail of the aircraft. They deflect symmetrically to produce pitch changes, tilting the nose up or down as the surfaces move together. They can also deflect differentially, one side moving opposite the other, to help roll the aircraft by changing lift on the left and right sides. That combination—two surfaces on either side of the tail that can move together for pitch or opposite ways for roll—captures their primary role. They’re located on either side of the tail, forming the aft end of the aircraft’s tail assembly.