22
votes
What are the reasons to use a downward vertical stabilizer?
The reason is to reduce radar detection from above.
Cruise missiles are designed to fly low, to avoid detection. Low altitudes make it harder to detect because the radar horizon is smaller, and things ...
- 8,180
18
votes
Are there any aircraft geometries which tend to prevent excessive bank angles?
Dihedral angle
Virtually all airplanes have a certain amount of dihedral angle to the wings -- which is to say, the wings are angled slightly up when you look at the aircraft nose-on. This slightly ...
- 1,085
16
votes
Accepted
What are the reasons to use a downward vertical stabilizer?
The answer provided by user71659 is very good and answers the radar-detection aspects.
One of your big questions, however, is why this unconventional design? The answer is that most aircraft are ...
- 2,950
6
votes
Are there any aircraft geometries which tend to prevent excessive bank angles?
The shapes themselves do not affect roll stability, it is the effect of motion (and aerodynamic resistance, aka drag) that creates or inhibits rolling motion.
Going back to the ship. If one had ...
- 21.3k
4
votes
For the same amount of thrust, is a jet airplane quieter than a propeller airplane?
The propeller driven aeroplane is quieter: it accelerates a higher mass at a lower velocity.
Aircraft thrust 𝕋 is given as $𝕋 = \dot{m} \cdot (V_e - V_c)$, with
$\dot{m}$ = accelerated air mass ...
- 62.9k
3
votes
What are the reasons to use a downward vertical stabilizer?
Here's a Dornier DO-335 Pfeil from WW2.
The vertical stabiliser hanging down also did dual duty to protect the rear pusher prop from damage.
- 1,159
3
votes
What are the reasons to use a downward vertical stabilizer?
A big reason missed, is that this would prevent deep stall of your vertical stabilizer. Where the vertical stabilizer loses its functionality because of the turbulent air from a stalled main wing.
...
- 263
2
votes
P-51, P-82; how about a P-113 or beyond?
Fighters are great, but it may be time to look into bombers, cargo transports, or airliners if you like long range multiengine aircraft.
However, the load distribution has merit in your design.
One ...
- 21.3k
1
vote
Are there any aircraft geometries which tend to prevent excessive bank angles?
Are there any aircraft geometries which tend to prevent excessive bank angles? Well, no, I'm not aware of any aeroplanes that cannot do a full 360° roll. Ailerons are deflected, and the result is an ...
- 62.9k
1
vote
Question on a flapped vs non-flapped wings local lift coefficients
The bound vorticity in the wing is substantially increased by the flap. This is predominately felt in front of the flap, but it extends everywhere.
The bound vorticity is directly related to the ...
- 16.5k
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