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Question (from a noob non-pilot): What's up with all the ...

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copec

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2015
Messages
81
Location
Santa Clara, UT
What's up with all the appearance and disappearance of V-tails when looking at the history of sailplanes?

Do V-tails pose more drag in actual use than T-tail, Cruciform-tail, or Conventional-tail sailplanes? I would think in many circumstances you would be causing more drag to create force vectors with opposing components to cancel - through a necessarily stronger and heavier tail assembly.

Although, there should be less total area to get the same set of forces, and with modern construction the tail isn't going to be substantially heavier.
 
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