Defining Ruddervators on Aircraft: Combining Rudder and Elevator
Ruddervators on an aircraft are cleverly designed control surfaces that combine the function of both rudder and elevators, thus, fulfilling two roles with a single mechanism. These surfaces can be found predominantly on V-tail aircraft, using two surfaces to create the roles of both the vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer.
Ruddervators work in the same way as elevators, controlling pitch, and they also operate like rudders, controlling yaw. The name itself is a combination of the two surfaces – rudders and elevators. Their design can provide a number of advantages for aircraft, such as increased maneuverability and reduced drag.
In contemporary aircraft, ruddervators are electronically controlled, using fly-by-wire technology, although in some cases, they can be mechanically driven as well. These surfaces can vary in size depending on the size of the aircraft and their function. For small aircraft, ruddervators may occupy significant portions of the tail, while for larger aircraft their dimensions will be much larger.
Overall, ruddervators are a smart solution to controlling pitch and yaw in V-tail aircraft as they reduce weight, increase maneuverability and improve overall balance and stability.
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