{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "all-moving-stabilator",
 "name": "All-moving tail (stabilator)",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Aircraft design",
 "group": "Tail configurations",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What is a stabilator (all-moving tail)?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "tail configurations",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "stabilator",
  "all moving tail",
  "all-flying tail",
  "flying stab",
  "all moving stabilizer rc",
  "antiservo tab",
  "stabilator vs elevator",
  "pivoting horizontal stabilizer",
  "full flying tail glider"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 1,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/all-moving-stabilator/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/all-moving-stabilator/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "A stabilator is a one-piece horizontal tail that pivots about a central hinge; it is very sensitive to control input (FAA PHAK ch.6).",
   "An antiservo tab on its trailing edge moves in the same direction as the stabilator, increasing stick force to prevent over-control, and a balance weight is usually placed ahead of the main spar (PHAK ch.6).",
   "RC sailplanes use the same idea: Drela's Bubble Dancer has a 'horizontal all moving tail' on a V-mount (CRRC).",
   "Used on: Bubble Dancer (RC sailplane).",
   "The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above. Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value or range",
    "source"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "Antiservo tab direction",
     "same direction as stabilator",
     "FAA PHAK ch.6"
    ],
    [
     "Mass balance",
     "weight ahead of main spar",
     "FAA PHAK ch.6"
    ],
    [
     "Bubble Dancer tail airfoil",
     "ht21 (horizontal and vertical)",
     "CRRC"
    ],
    [
     "Reference build",
     "Sh 40,000 mm^2 pivoting surface",
     "computed"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "All-moving tail (stabilator) — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/all-moving-stabilator/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- A stabilator is a one-piece horizontal tail that pivots about a central hinge; it is very sensitive to control input (FAA PHAK ch.6).\n- An antiservo tab on its trailing edge moves in the same direction as the stabilator, increasing stick force to prevent over-control, and a balance weight is usually placed ahead of the main spar (PHAK ch.6).\n- RC sailplanes use the same idea: Drela's Bubble Dancer has a 'horizontal all moving tail' on a V-mount (CRRC).\n- Used on: Bubble Dancer (RC sailplane).\n- The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above. Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.\n\nparameter  value or range  source\nAntiservo tab direction  same direction as stabilator  FAA PHAK ch.6\nMass balance  weight ahead of main spar  FAA PHAK ch.6\nBubble Dancer tail airfoil  ht21 (horizontal and vertical)  CRRC\nReference build  Sh 40,000 mm^2 pivoting surface  computed\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- FAA: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), Ch. 6 Flight Controls — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/08_phak_ch6.pdf\n- Charles River Radio Controllers (M. Drela designs): Bubble Dancer 3m RES sailplane — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://charlesriverrc.org/articles/on-line-plans/mark-drela-designs/bubble-dancer/\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/all-moving-stabilator/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=all-moving-stabilator\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "FAA",
   "title": "Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), Ch. 6 Flight Controls",
   "url": "https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/08_phak_ch6.pdf",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Charles River Radio Controllers (M. Drela designs)",
   "title": "Bubble Dancer 3m RES sailplane",
   "url": "https://charlesriverrc.org/articles/on-line-plans/mark-drela-designs/bubble-dancer/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "tail-volume-coefficient",
  "tail-moment-arm",
  "conventional-tail",
  "t-tail",
  "cruciform-tail",
  "v-tail"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "Why do stabilators need an antiservo tab?",
   "a": "They are so sensitive that the tab adds feel force to prevent over-controlling (FAA PHAK ch.6)."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": {
  "name": "Xem Studio Design License",
  "holder": "Xem Studio",
  "url": "https://xemstudio.com/license/",
  "note": "Xem Studio's own design: free to use, print, modify and sell things made from it; not to be republished or redistributed as files."
 },
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "all-moving-stabilator-tail",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/all-moving-stabilator/all-moving-stabilator-tail.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/all-moving-stabilator/all-moving-stabilator-tail.stl",
   "note": "all moving layout: horizontal span 400 × chord 100, vertical 140 × 114 mm on a 500 mm boom, NACA 0009 surfaces"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/all-moving-stabilator/index.md"
}