Canard
A canard is a small horizontal stabilizer located ahead of the main wing on an aircraft, as opposed to the conventional aft-mounted horizontal tail. The canard provides pitch control and generates lift, contributing positively to overall aircraft lift rather than the downforce produced by a conventional aft stabilizer.
Canard Aerodynamics
In a conventional aircraft, the aft horizontal stabilizer produces downforce to balance the nose-down pitching moment of the wing. This downforce must be overcome by the wing, reducing efficiency. A canard instead produces lift forward of the main wing, assisting the wing rather than opposing it — theoretically more efficient.
Stall Characteristics
Canard aircraft are designed so the canard stalls before the main wing. When the canard stalls, the nose pitches down and the main wing remains unstalled — the aircraft recovers naturally. This design theoretically prevents a deep stall. Examples include the Beech Starship, Piaggio Avanti, and many Rutan designs (VariEze, Long-EZ).