Empennage

The tail assembly of an aircraft, typically comprising horizontal and vertical stabilizers and their control surfaces. It provides stability and directional control.

Horizontal stabilizer: A fixed horizontal tail surface that provides longitudinal stability by generating an aerodynamic force. It counters pitch disturbances and supports the elevator's control of aircraft pitch.
Angle of attack: The angle between a body's reference line and the oncoming airflow. Changes in airflow angle alter the forces produced by stabilizers and control surfaces.
Canard (aeronautics): An aircraft configuration with a small forward wing ahead of the main wing. Its forward control surface contrasts with the conventional aft-mounted empennage.
Aircraft trim: Adjustment of aerodynamic forces so an aircraft maintains a chosen flight condition without continuous control input. Tail incidence and control settings help balance forces for hands-off flight.
Vertical stabilizer: A fixed vertical tail surface that helps an aircraft maintain directional stability. It resists unwanted yaw and provides the mounting surface for the rudder.
Lift: The aerodynamic force perpendicular to the oncoming flow around a body. Horizontal tail surfaces use aerodynamic force to balance pitching moments.
Tailless aircraft: An aircraft designed without a distinct horizontal tail assembly. Its stability and pitch control must be achieved without a conventional empennage.
Deep stall: A high-angle-of-attack stall in which separated airflow can prevent pitch recovery, especially on some T-tail aircraft. Tail placement can expose stabilizers to wake or blanking effects that impair recovery.
Elevator: A hinged flight-control surface, usually mounted on a horizontal stabilizer, that controls pitch. Deflecting it changes the tail's aerodynamic force and pitches the aircraft.
Yaw: Rotation of an aircraft about its vertical axis. The vertical tail and rudder chiefly resist and control this motion.

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Fixed-wing aircraftBroader topic: The tail helps stabilize and control many fixed-wing designs.