Topic 2.3 - Airframe Stabilizers

AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE
Topic 2.3
Airframe - Stabilisers
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INTRODUCTION
On completion of this topic you should be able to:
2.3.1 Describe the construction of stabilisers.
2.3.2 Describe methods of stabiliser attachment.
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STABILISER CONSTRUCTION
Stabiliser construction is very similar to that of the wings.
The internal structure of

stabilisers :
spars and stringers running

spanwise and ribs running
chordwise;
fabric, plywood or sheet metal

skins.
leading edges manufactured from

metal or composites
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Stabiliser skins on smaller aircraft can be manufactured with

corrugations to add strength.
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Some aircraft are
manufactured with a
deliberate nose down
tendency.
To counteract that for straight

and level flight the horizontal
stabiliser is manufactured
with a cambered lower skin.
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STABILISER MOUNTS
On pressurised aircraft,
stabiliser mounts are
usually associated with
the same structure as
the rear pressure
bulkhead as this
structure provides the
strongest load path.
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STABILISER MOUNTS
Vertical Stab
Rear Pressure Bulkhead
Horizontal Stab
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HORIZONTAL STABILISER
Most aircraft have a cantilever type horizontal stab.
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Some aircraft have

separate horizontal
stabs which are
attached to the fuselage
by a large bearing
mount to enable
stabiliser to pivot.
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Some aircraft have separate horizontal stabs which are
attached to the fuselage by large hinge mounts.
The stabiliser is allowed to pivot about the aft hinges as the
forward hinges are attached to a jackscrew.
Example –
Boeing 737
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Aft hinge
Forward hinge mounts
mounts attached to
jackscrew.
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Some large
horizontal stabs
are one piece,
joined together by
a structural centre
section.
Example – Boeing 767
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Centre section fits into aft fuselage or vertical fin by rear spar pivots, and actuating
arm attaches to a jackscrew support which enables stab actuation.
Rear Spar Pivots
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Some smaller horizontal
stabs are moveable one
piece control surfaces,
joined together by a
structural centre section.
Example - Piper
Cherokee
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They are attached to the fuselage by hinge points and are actuated by a control cable
attached to a counter balanced torque tube.
Hinge Point REVISION2 Torque Tube 16

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Hinge Point Torque Tube
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Some aircraft stabs are separate fixed surfaces, that have elevators on the aft edge.
Example – Piper PA-31P – Pressurised Navajo
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These stabs are generally multi-spar construction.
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The spars extend out through the inner rib and are fitted and bolted in place inside the
fuselage.
Forward Spar
Aft Spar
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The forward spar is fitted through this opening and bolted to the structure.
The aft spar is

bolted to the aft
bulkhead.
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Some horizontal stabs are one piece fixed surfaces.
Example – Cessna 402
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The stab is joined together by a structural centre section which has attachment holes for
bolting to the aircraft.
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The centre
section is bolted
to the aft
bulkhead
and to the aft

former.
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Some horizontal stabilisers are mounted on the fuselage with a positive dihedral to
provide additional stability.
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Some aircraft use a V-Tail configuration, which serves the same functions as the three
surfaces of conventional tails.
Example – V-tail Beech Bonanza
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Some aircraft have a twin tail-boom configuration to allow one forward and one aft
mounted engine to provide thrust in line with the centre of the fuselage.
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Horizontal stabs are removed from wing turbulence and propeller
slipstream by locating them at the top of the fin.
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Horizontal stabs
are also mounted
at the top of a fin
to remove them
from jet exhaust.
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Pivoting stabiliser can

sometimes be called a
variable incidence
tailplane.
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Pivoting
stabiliser can
sometimes be
called a
stabilator.
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Generally, aircraft have different designs of horizontal stabilisers, and different

methods of attaching them.
However when fitting any horizontal stab, they must all be checked for correct
symmetry.
Vertical stabs are similar between aircraft in the way that they are all fixed surfaces.
They too require symmetry checks when fitted to ensure that they are symmetrical
with the wings and fuselage.
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VERTICAL STABILISER
Vertical stabilisers have a
similar construction to
horizontal stabilisers,
although there are no
provisions for them to
actuate.
They act as a weathervane

to give the aircraft
directional stability.
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VERTICAL STABILISER
They are mounted via solid anchor points on the aft fuselage along
the centre line of the longitudinal axis.
Some aircraft have vertical stabs

that have been deliberately
offset during manufacture to
counteract the affect of
propeller torque.
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CONCLUSION
Now that you have completed this topic, you should be able to:
2.3.1 Describe the construction of stabilisers.
2.3.2 Describe methods of stabiliser attachment.
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This concludes Topic 2.3
Airframe - Stabilisers
Your next topic is Topic 2.4

Airframe – Flight Control Surfaces
REVISION2 39

Topic 2.3 - Airframe Stabilizers

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AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE

2.3.1 Describe the construction of stabilisers.

2.3.2 Describe methods of stabiliser attachment.

The internal structure of

spars and stringers running

fabric, plywood or sheet metal

leading edges manufactured from

Stabiliser skins on smaller aircraft can be manufactured with

To counteract that for straight

Rear Pressure Bulkhead

Some aircraft have

Example – Boeing 767

Rear Spar Pivots

Hinge Point REVISION2 Torque Tube 16

Example – Piper PA-31P – Pressurised Navajo

The aft spar is

Example – Cessna 402

and to the aft

Example – Cessna 404

Example – V-tail Beech Bonanza

Example – Cessna 337

Pivoting stabiliser can

Generally, aircraft have different designs of horizontal stabilisers, and different

They act as a weathervane

Some aircraft have vertical stabs

2.3.1 Describe the construction of stabilisers.

2.3.2 Describe methods of stabiliser attachment.

Your next topic is Topic 2.4

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