Which component is the elevator hinged to?

• A. The trailing edge of the fixed horizontal stabilizer
• B. The leading edge of the wing
• C. The fuselage nose
• D. The vertical stabilizer

Answer: (A)

The part that actually changes the aircraft’s pitch is the elevator, a movable surface on the tail. It’s hinged along the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer—the fixed tail surface that provides stability. When the elevator deflects, it changes the tail’s lift and angle of attack, creating a pitching moment that raises or lowers the nose.

The other components don’t serve as the hinge for the elevator: the leading edge of the wing belongs to the wing itself, the fuselage nose has no control surface, and the vertical stabilizer is where the rudder is located for yaw control, not pitch.