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Detail of the air rudder mounting plate; this Redstone is displayed without its air rudders. Note the socket for the air rudder's shaft near the top of the mounting plate.

The same actuator assembly would drive both the air rudder and the jet vanes.

During the first portion of the missile's flight, it was controlled by four carbon jet vanes located within the engine exhaust. When the missile reached a velocity sufficient for it to become aerodynamically stable, four air rudders located at equidistant points around the outside of the tail section took over the control function.