I am tasked with finding out what a stabilator is and I don't mean the CONTROL SURFACE that everyone is familiar with, but something like a FLIGHT INSTRUMENT from the early days of aviation, say the 20's.

I have done some google searches but everything always pops up as the control surface.

I asked some mechanics as well and they can't recall such a thing.

Can anyone help me out? I figure there are thousands of years of combined experience here on the website, someone is surely going to know.

Thanks!

Quoting flanker (Thread starter): I am tasked with finding out what a stabilator is and I don't mean the CONTROL SURFACE that everyone is familiar with, but something like a FLIGHT INSTRUMENT from the early days of aviation, say the 20's.

What's the source that's asking? In other words, what's the context for referring to a stabilator that *doesn't* mean the control surface?

The closest thing I know about is a flight display to show stabilator position, but that probably isn't what you're talking about.

Tom.

This is a real WAG, but could it be something related to an AOA sensor? AOA sensor sorta looks like a mini stabilator...

Quoting flanker (Thread starter): I am tasked with finding out what a stabilator is and I don't mean the CONTROL SURFACE that everyone is familiar with, but something like a FLIGHT INSTRUMENT from the early days of aviation, say the 20's.

The early Sperry autopilots were called a gyro stabiliser apparatus, early flight article http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1915/1915%20-%200075.html

I am thinking that the question is about floats and hulls. I.E. Seaplanes. I have zero experience with seaplanes but something here rings a bell. Of course this isn't a flight instrument but if we are talking "20s" float and seaplanes were the plane of the day. Just a guess.