What is the empennage of an aircraft?

The empennage refers to the tail assembly of an aircraft, which includes components such as the horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and control surfaces like the elevators and rudder. It is a crucial part of an aircraft’s structure, as it provides stability and control during flight.

Though the empennage is essential to the aircraft’s performance and aerodynamics, it is not classified as a major component of the fuselage, which primarily consists of the main body of the aircraft where the cockpit and passenger or cargo areas are located. Therefore, although the empennage is vital for flight stability and control, it is separate from the fuselage, thus supporting the correct understanding of its role and classification within the aircraft structure.