What is a primary effect of the empennage on an aircraft?

The empennage, or tail section of an aircraft, plays a crucial role in providing stability and control, particularly in pitch and yaw. The empennage typically consists of the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer helps to maintain the aircraft's stability in pitch, ensuring that the nose does not excessively rise or fall during flight. The vertical stabilizer aids in controlling yaw, which is the left or right movement of the aircraft's nose. Together, these components allow the pilot to have better control over the aircraft's orientation and response, contributing to safe and effective flight operations.

In contrast, while maintaining structural integrity is important for overall aircraft safety, it is not the primary function of the empennage. The role of generating thrust is mainly served by the engines, not the tail section. Absorbing landing shocks is typically managed by the landing gear rather than the empennage, which is designed for stability and control rather than for shock absorption.