In what direction does the horizontal stabilizer produce lift?

The horizontal stabilizer is primarily responsible for controlling the pitch of the aircraft, and it produces lift in a downward direction. This occurs during flight to maintain the aircraft's attitude and stability. When the aircraft is in level flight, the wings generate lift upward, while the horizontal stabilizer balances this by producing an equal amount of downward lift.

This downward lift helps counteract the nose-up tendency created by the wings during flight, keeping the aircraft level and stable. When the aircraft is in a climb or descent, the horizontal stabilizer continues to produce this downward force to maintain control and ensure the desired flight path is achieved. Therefore, the main function of the horizontal stabilizer is to ensure stability, and its lift generation in a downward direction is crucial to maintaining the aircraft's aerodynamic balance.