Cannard Airliner?
Many moons ago, when I first realized the horizotal stab on a big bird is in fact an inverted airfoil, I began wondering why it is that none of the Boeing's or Airbus's etc. had bothered to correct that obvious waste of efficiency?
If they flip the thing right side up and stick it in front of the mainplane, it works for you instead of against. (and can still look after "mach tuck" which, I understand, is why it's inverted when it's at the back)
I've asked people about this and the best answer I've got so far is that "people wouldn't fly on something that looked like that"!
Actually, I once spoke to a Boeing engineer who said that they'd had discussions about cannard's, but decided that, because of an inherent instability, they would stick to tradition. Now doesn't that sound just like Boeing!
Any thoughts?