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AerodynamicsQuestion 463 of 934

Which parts of an airplane are the prime contributors to directional stability?

  1. The horizontal stabilizer and the elevator trim tab
  2. The vertical fin and the fuselage aft of the CG
  3. The propeller and the engine mounts at the nose
  4. The flaps and the ailerons on both wings
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Correct answer: The vertical fin and the fuselage aft of the CG

The area of the vertical fin and the fuselage sides aft of the CG make the airplane act like a weather vane.

Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 5: Aerodynamics of Flight — Directional Stability (Yawing), page 116

Practice aerodynamics

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026