Which description best defines a V-tail?

• A. A tail design using two vertical stabilizers
• B. A tail design using two slanted tail surfaces that perform the elevator and rudder functions
• C. A conventional tail with separate elevator and rudder
• D. A canard configuration

Answer: (B)

A V-tail is a tail arrangement where two surfaces are mounted at an angle to form a V shape. These two surfaces act together to provide both pitch control (elevator) and yaw control (rudder); they’re typically linked as a single pair of surfaces called ruddervators. This description matches the defining feature of a V-tail: two slanted tail surfaces that handle both elevator and rudder functions.

This setup is different from a conventional tail, which uses a separate horizontal stabilizer with an elevator and a vertical stabilizer with a rudder, and from a canard configuration, which places lifting surfaces forward of the wing. A V-tail can reduce drag and weight by removing separate vertical and horizontal fins, but it requires careful control mixing and can affect stability and control feel in some flight regimes.