3 ms·
Boeing 747 stabilizer trim is achieved by rotating the entire tailplane by up to 15 degrees. The elevator is much smaller (less than 1/3 the area) and is deflec
by jojobas 3y ago
Boeing 747 stabilizer trim is achieved by rotating the entire tailplane by up to 15 degrees. The elevator is much smaller (less than 1/3 the area) and is deflected by a smaller angle.
That's some serious force you'd have to apply with those air jets either throughout the cruise phase or takeoff/landing.
- anilakar 3y agoPositioning of nozzles in the video suggests they're experimenting with a BLC system, not just nozzles placed in the extremities like in the Harrier jets.
- tlb 3y agoPassenger jets need it because the center of gravity can vary a lot depending on passenger and cargo loading. A spy plane could probably be built with almost zero variation, with some careful fuel tank management.
- JumpCrisscross 3y agoThere are entire classes of tail-less aircraft. This is an abundantly solved problem.
- jojobas 3y agoHuge control surfaces harsh CoG limitations are the tradeoff.