RE: Russian Plane Crash
November 2, 2015 at 9:38 pm
(This post was last modified: November 2, 2015 at 9:39 pm by Anomalocaris.)
Not with a fly-by-wire aircraft.
Negative lift on the tail planes creates positive static stability that allows manual flight control. But by working against the lift of the main wings, negative lift on the tail increase the induced drag, and reduce fuel efficiency.
Fly-by-wire aircraft can handle zero or negative static stability. So they don't need tails to create negative lift. In fact, they can handle tails with positive lift. Positive tail lift makes the aircraft highly unstable. But if the control system can handle the instability, then it also gives the aircraft very low induced drag and high fuel efficiency.
Negative lift on the tail planes creates positive static stability that allows manual flight control. But by working against the lift of the main wings, negative lift on the tail increase the induced drag, and reduce fuel efficiency.
Fly-by-wire aircraft can handle zero or negative static stability. So they don't need tails to create negative lift. In fact, they can handle tails with positive lift. Positive tail lift makes the aircraft highly unstable. But if the control system can handle the instability, then it also gives the aircraft very low induced drag and high fuel efficiency.
