What Do You Call It?

[megan]

I refer to the tailplane/elevator combination.

Tails on the likes of the F-4 I have seen referred to as "slab", "stabilator", "all flying tail", "flying tail".

The combination off trimable stabiliser with attached elevator, as on your typical Boeing airline product, Sea Vixen, Javelin, on the other hand also seems to be described in some quarters as an "all flying tail" and also a "flying tail".

I've wondered if it may be a case of two nations (US & UK) once again separated by a common language.

So what do you pros call them by way of differentiation, if anything.

Reason for asking later after some replies.

[Exrigger]

On the Tornado aircraft it was called the Taileron.

[H Peacock]

Megan, I think you're right about it being a UK/US language issue. What I would call a Fin, the US would probably call a vertical stabiliser (probably with a z!). They tend to call our Tailplane a Horizontal Stabiliser.

It is however also a function of what the surface controls. The Phantom 'horizontal stabiliser' was indeed an all-moving tail but only controlled pitch, so it's not a Taileron. The Harrier had similar. The Bucaneer also had an all-moving tailplane (T tail) but also had an adjustable flap/tab on the trailing edge. I believe this tab was deflected up to counter the large nose-down pitch associated with lowering the flaps. (In fact the ailerons drooped at the same time, all indicated in the front seat with wonderfully named 'cheese' indicators! They had to all move together!)

The Gnat had elevators, but these were usually locked to the all-moving tailplane - the whole thing moving to control pitch. If needed, (Hyd failure), the elevators could be unlocked from the tailplane - the latter now being fixed or trimmed to a specific setting with the elevators now being controlled by the stick.

Jaguar and Tornado both have 2 one-piece surfaces that control roll and pitch - hence as Exrigger mentioned - we call them Tailerons.


At one stage the US called combined elevators/ailerons on the (Gutless) Cutlass 'ailevators'. I much prefer our Elevons!

Back to the Buc, I'm not sure if it's drooping ailerons were called Flaperons.

The worst name has got to be 'Speedbrakes'. I much prefer our UK name of Airbrakes.

On some types even the trusty throttle has picked up a dreadful Americanism of 'Thrust lever' yuk!

[Above The Clouds]

On ours its called a horizontal stabiliser, its used for normal and emer trimming and operates in auto mode for mach trimming above M.780

[ShotOne]

Agreed, horizontal stabiliser, without the zee!

[Wetstart Dryrun]

A horizontal stabiliser wthout the 'zee' would be a horiontal stabiliser, which is silly.

Elevator will do for me, and the bit sticking up is a finnan rudder

[TyroPicard]

H Peacock
As I understand it, a throttle sets fuel flow, a thrust lever sets thrust..... small but significant difference.

[LOMCEVAK]

H Peacock,

The Buccaneer surfaces were referred to as ailerons which could be drooped to become ... 'drooped ailerons'. They were never referred to as Flaperons. The tailplane flaps moved synchronously with the ailerons when they drooped, not with the mainplane flaps.

[Wetstart Dryrun]

A throttle sets 'full smash', 'max welly', 'firewall' , 'max grunt' and maybe 'full smashgruntwellytrip the limiters to the firewall' if that soupcon (sorry, can't do cedillas) of extra power is needed.

A thrust lever is operated by girlies.

...a large and significant difference

[H Peacock]

A throttle sets 'full smash', 'max welly', 'firewall' , 'max grunt' and maybe 'full smashgruntwellytrip the limiters to the firewall' if that soupcon (sorry, can't do cedillas) of extra power is needed.

A thrust lever is operated by girlies.

Sweet! ��

TyroPicard.
Yes I understand what you're saying, but then doesn't the 'thrust lever' simply tell the FADEC how much 'throttle' you want? The FADEC decides how much thrust you'll get by monitoring the EPR, N1, N2, TGT, etc. ie it sets the fuel flow.

To make it even easier for me on a long trip, they've now invented a piece of software which, in certain modes, moves the 'Thrust Levers' automatically. Going too quick - they slowly move back. Going too slow - they move forward. It's great at holding a demanded airspeed! They've called it 'Auto Thrust Lever'. Oh, no I mean 'Autothrottle'. Yep, the Autothrottle actually moves the Thrust Lever!

[Wetstart Dryrun]

Yep, that's what I said

[Brain Potter]

To make it even easier for me on a long trip, they've now invented a piece of software which, in certain modes, moves the 'Thrust Levers' automatically. Going too quick - they slowly move back. Going too slow - they move forward. It's great at holding a demanded airspeed! They've called it 'Auto Thrust Lever'. Oh, no I mean 'Autothrottle'. Yep, the Autothrottle actually moves the Thrust Lever!

Modern aircraft have Autothrust...

[beardy]

Throttle (and choke) is for piston engines with carburettors. Thrust is for jets

[ShotOne]

Why would we call It a throttle when in a car, the control which really is connected to a throttle is called an accelerator (or gas pedal)?

[AtomKraft]

Whaddya call it on a Mirage then?

[SASless]

Modern aircraft have Autothrust...

Isn't that what Co-Pilot's are for?

As no one...but no one....puts up with Flight Engineers anymore!

[Lyneham Lad]

No one has yet mentioned the Vulcan's elevons - so I will ;)

[Minnie Burner]

Uxbridge Dictionary
Taps:
1. Throttles, thrust levers, shiny levers, etc.
2. Man who operates same, i.e. FE, pub landlord. Origin unknown, possibly from Thick As Pig ****.

AK: Mirage elevators: They don't really exist; they're a trick of the light.

Min

[57mm]

Not to mention the flaperons on the Tiff......