The article isn't that interesting except for its example -- the front rudder. It's easy to see why a front rudder would lead to instability -- a small initial

The article isn't that interesting except for its example -- the front rudder. It's easy to see why a front rudder would lead to instability -- a small initial change in heading leads to an ever-larger change in heading, and the system isn't self-stabilizing. The classic example of something like a "front rudder" and its consequences is the Wright Flyer, the pitch control for which was in front of the center of mass (the rudder was aft). http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wright/images/flye-lotech.gif http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wright/images/flye-lotech.gi... The result of this arrangement is that, ans anyone who has tried to fly a modern version of this craft will tell you, it's very difficult to control in pitch, and constant adjustments are required. Pretty soon Glenn Curtis and others got the idea to put both the rudder and elevator aft of the center of mass, which greatly increased flight stability. That arrangement quickly became a universal standard.