Ttail

A T-tail is a type of aircraft tail configuration in which the horizontal stabilizer is mounted at the top of the vertical stabilizer, forming a “T” shape. This arrangement places the tailplane well above the fuselage and often above the wing wake, reducing interference from the wing and engine exhaust. It is commonly found on certain jetliners and regional aircraft, especially those with rear-mounted engines or high-mounted tails.

Advantages of the T-tail include cleaner airflow over the horizontal stabilizer at high angles of attack, which can improve elevator effectiveness during takeoff and landing. By keeping the stabilizer out of the wing’s turbulent wake, some designs gain more predictable pitch control and trimming characteristics under certain flight conditions. The configuration can also simplify maintenance access to the tailplane in certain layouts and may allow for a shorter fuselage for a given tailplane area.

Disadvantages and considerations include a heightened risk of deep stall, because the disrupted flow from the wing can blank the horizontal stabilizer during nose-up attitudes, potentially making recovery difficult without protections such as stall warning systems or stick pushers. The tail structure is often heavier and more complex, and maintenance can be more challenging due to the height and access requirements. Despite these issues, the T-tail configuration has been widely used on several influential aircraft, including the Sud Aviation Caravelle, the BAC One-Eleven, the Boeing 727, and the Tupolev Tu-154.