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Old 29th Aug 2010, 01:32
  #2048 (permalink)  
mm43
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Vertical Stabilizer & Rudder dimensions

Bearfoil; henra

This may be of interest to you in your quest to establish the "gliding" capabilities of the Tail Fin.

The following dimensions are approximate, and a Center of Gravity for when recovered has been calculated from images and video viewed when it was floating. The trim along with the rudder angle was used to find an approximate center of buoyancy, and then compared with what trim a homogeneous mass of similar dimensions and volume would float at. An estimate was used to adjust for the additional weight of the clevis joints. This change in trim then provided a reasonable approximation of the Center of Gravity.



Airfoil area (excluding the clevis joints) at the base is close to 4.6m^2, tapering to about 0.5m^2 at the top. Total mass of the recovered Vertical Stabilizer & Rudder including attachments is estimated to be 1850kg.

This image from FlightGlobal.com should give you an idea of where the strength is built in to the Airbus Vertical Stabilizers.



mm43

Last edited by mm43; 31st Aug 2010 at 05:23. Reason: changed image
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