Empennage

The section of the airplane that consists of the vertical stabilizer, the horizontal stabilizer, and the associated control surfaces.

Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (definition from the FAA-H-8083-25B, 2016; current: FAA-H-8083-25C, 2023, with the October 2025 addendum).

Glossary last updated 2026-10-28.

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