What term describes a pair of control surfaces on the tail arranged in the form of a V; when moved together they act as elevators, and when moved differentially they act as rudder?

• A. Elevator
• B. Rudder
• C. Ruddervator
• D. Aileron

Answer: (C)

In a V-tail, two tail surfaces form a V and serve dual purposes. When they move together, they deflect as a pair to raise or lower the nose, acting like elevators. When they move in opposite directions, they produce yaw, functioning like a rudder. The term for this combined control surface is ruddervator. The other options refer to single surfaces: elevator for pitch, rudder for yaw, and aileron for roll, but in a V-tail those two surfaces perform both roles depending on how they’re moved.