Longitudinal Stability

[Darth_Bovine]

Thanks

Thanks all for taking the time to type replies- I appreciate it.

So in my mind I now have this:

With the CoP aft of CoG for stability, if lift increases (a gust, say) that will tend to cause a restoring nose down rotation.

For the same gust: the proportion of the increase in lift generated by the tail will be larger than the increase from the main wing. Due to the longer momement arm of the tail, this will also cause a restoring nose down tendancy.

Am I missing anything fundamental? I expect to be quizzed on stability in the near future so want to understand it.

I may be back if I run into a brick wall for Lateral, Directional and Spiral stability.