Glad you like it... thanks! Per my agreement with CGCookie, I can release the model here on Blendswap for any non-commercial use. If you want to use it commercially, however, then you need to obtain permission from them(support@cgcookie.com). Thanks!

That's actually not true. If you look at [fighters taking off] (http://st.gdefon.com/wallpapers_original/wallpapers/427092_vzlet_bort-avianosca_2000x1312_(www.GdeFon.ru).jpg), they have their flaps down and the horizontal stabilizers are pointing toward the ground. The horizontal stabilizers are barely used in the air, but they still perform the same function. You can see it slightly in [this high-G turn] (http://www.vistawallpaper.org/vista-wallpapers/high-g-turn.jpg). The reason it isn't more pronounced is that at higher speeds, you get a lot of effect with only a small movement of the control surface. Ideally, these surfaces would be independently rigged... but I built this for a [tutorial] (http://cgcookie.com/blender/cgc-courses/mechanical-rigging-fighter-jet-blender/), so I chose simplicity over perfection :) Feel free to improve it and share! -Chris-

Most modern fighters use both tailerons (That is, a fully moving horizontal stabilizer that has both ganged and differential control for pitch and roll control respectively) and ailerons on the wings exclusively for roll control. Flaps (The control surfaces on the inboard section of the wing's trailing edge) are used to [increase the overall lift coefficient of the wing](http://flysafe.raa.asn.au/groundschool/flapcl.gif), which is useful at slow speeds such as takeoff and landing where the [dynamic pressure](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_pressure) is low. These are independent of elevator control, and are almost never done deferentially. And the horizontal surfaces are MOST CERTAINLY used in high speed flight. Their movements might be reduced at higher speeds, however, as they offer a lot more authority; more than the pilot or aircraft could handle. On some aircraft (The F/A-18 comes to mind) the ailerons are dropped together when the flaps are deployed to their lower position, further increasing lift. The ailerons still function is this condition, though their positions have simply been offset. The elevators may be further up at low speeds, but again, this is independent of flap position; the elevator is merely trimmed for low speed flight. Flaps may occasionally be used in other flight conditions. For instance, the pilot may make a sudden, large pitch-up command. The flaps may deploy briefly to provide the extra lift to initiate the maneuver, but are then washed out. This is all handled by the control system and is transparent to the pilot. Again, I want to stress that this is due to flight conditions and pilot commands, and not a link between flap and elevator positions.

Err... yeah. What Eric said :)