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Thread: T-tail aircraft
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Old 4th January 2006 | 16:04
  #3 (permalink)  
Confabulous
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
Re: T-tail aircraft

Should be reasonably easy, even though I'm not an ATPL...


Advantages for engines at the rear:

1. Less worrying about CG issues, since the heavy stuff is already at the rear

2. Less wires, control runs etc

3. Engines are easier to replace (everything is grouped together)

Disadvatages:

1. Compressor blade loss could take out both engines and damage the tail if severe enough

2. Thrust changes on approach work the wrong way, i.e, more thrust = pitch down, less thrust = pitch up

3. More dangers for overrotation? (Just a thought)

4. Needs a T-tail design to avoid melting bits off the aircraft

Advantages of a T-tail:

1. Tail is in clean air

2. Can be a single unit, therefore can be stronger

3. Can be set further back from the CG, improving pitch authority

Disadvantages:

1. Possible pitchup following a stall, could be unrecoverable

2. Previous trait requires more effort designing the flight control system, wing mods etc
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