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Transport category aircraft are inherently stable by their aerodynamic design, it's a certification requirement. If you have normal wings and the right size ho
by t0mas88 5y ago
Transport category aircraft are inherently stable by their aerodynamic design, it's a certification requirement.
If you have normal wings and the right size horizontal and vertical stabiliser the basic design of an aircraft is self stabilising. Especially with the wings sloping upwards (as all airliners have) because that wing shape also contributes to stability.
- aidenn0 5y agoPer the Wikipedia article, MD-11 required active stabilization.
- t0mas88 5y agoNever flown one, but as far as I know that's only moving the center of gravity by moving fuel. The CG is very important to inherent stability, if it moves behind the center of pressure you lose all pitch stability. And for efficiency you want it to be as far aft as possible because that reduces drag from the tailplane.