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Old 28th May 2002 | 19:10
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oxford blue
 
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: oxford
If you stall a rudder, it usually happens at low speed, and very often, you go into a spin.

The Canberra and Meteor were both classic examples. The engines were set mid-wing. Such a configuration was bound to give asymmetric problems - and it did!

This is usually the reason why, on any twin with the engines set mid-wing, you have a Vmca. As the speed lowers, there comes a point where, one one engine, no matter how strong your knees are, you can't hold the asymmetric load any longer, because the rudder is not giving you sufficient authority at that speed. At that point, the aircraft departs - usually into a spiral dive.

In general, try to choose an aircraft with the engines set close to the fuselage - such as the Phantom, Buccaneer, Vulcan, or VC10. That way, if one packs up, you don't have too much of an asymmetric problem.
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