Horizontal stabiliser
 

Have been trying to work out what the (usually) grey filler type material is around the horizontal stabiliser root on many airliners. It always looks like unfinished work to me. A short explanation would satisfy many years of curiosity on my part.
Thanks
dghob

Not sure what you are on about, most airliners if not all have moveable horizontal stabilisers so the root end is normally not visible as it is behind aerodynamic fairings. Maybe a picture would help.

The stab requires a slot to operate throughout its range - to seal this slot at various stab positions, sliding doors or rubberised fillers are used. They are what you are looking at.

Referred to as ' elephant's ears by some or slot seals by others. What the obsession with wild animals is I will never know.

Turin - how dare you call my seal a slot !!! :eek:

Turin
 

Add Bananna panel to the list, I allways referred to an elephant ear as a flap to fuscelage fairing (are shaped just like them)..

Thanks for the info.
dghob