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I wonder if someone can explain how the rudder on the Rutan Long-EZ works. I have an idea that it is the induced drag which yaws the plane.

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It's a combination. There is a lateral yawing force that is a function of the offset between the rudder's lateral lift force when displaced, and the C of G, like any airplane. The moment arm is quite short so it can't generate a very strong yawing moment compared to a normal tail.

However, the drag produced by the rudder, being way out on the wing tip, magnifies the yawing force as the drag force is added to the direct yawing force to get a resultant force vector which provides a stronger yawing moment than the lateral yawing force alone.

This allows a rudder surface that is smaller than a centrally located rudder would have to be, with the same longitudinal offset from the C of G, that is depending purely on lateral lift for its yawing moment (like with forward-swept flying wings with enormous central rudders a-la Marske, or if the Long-EZ had a rudder where the propeller is).

A useful side benefit of the Long-EZ's rudder configuration is due to the fact that each rudder can be displaced separately (each one is connected to one pedal, and only moves out from neutral and there is no interconnection between them); you can deflect them both outwards at the same time and use them as speed brakes.

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you...why i ask is because i am building a LongEz, and there is a rudder modification, and i do not understand the meaning of this. The old is more like a brake, the new is more like a rudder. $\endgroup$
    – Perty
    Dec 11, 2020 at 15:34
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    $\begingroup$ You mean the pedal arrangement? Did Rutan change the design to interconnect them so you can't deploy each side at the same time? $\endgroup$
    – John K
    Dec 11, 2020 at 17:21
  • $\begingroup$ No it is not the pedals, it is the design of the rudder. $\endgroup$
    – Perty
    Dec 11, 2020 at 21:10
  • $\begingroup$ You mean they go left and right now??? $\endgroup$
    – John K
    Dec 11, 2020 at 21:43
  • $\begingroup$ No, the new rudder is much longer and not so deep, and i think the angle is less... $\endgroup$
    – Perty
    Dec 11, 2020 at 22:28

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