Originally Posted by
MerlinV
Actually Don, that Wylam Drawing is showing the Fin off set to the LEFT! At least that's my interpretation.
Damn semantics! If you look at the tail post of the fin, it's dead-center. Then look at the "nose" of the fin. It's offset to the right of the center stringer.
And I would not take a Wylam Drawing as gospel... There a great many details on his drawings that bear NO relation to reality.
You're right there. I just checked on the Replicraft drawings and there is no indication of any off-set on the vertical fin.
...while the (right) Offset fin/rudder is REACTING to the airflow by pushing the tail to the left.
I'm assuming that what the vertical fin will want to do in flight is adopt a position of least resistance, i.e. with the LE directly into the airflow. If we take the LE to be on the right side of center, then for the fin to get lined up with the airflow, it will try to swing the tail to the right. So that doesn't make any sense!
I suppose the better way to look at it would be as a vertical airfoil with the right off-set equating to a raised LE. This should (at least in my mind) produce more "lift" ("pressure") on the left side compared with the right side so the fin should move to the right.
That's the opinion of an English teacher.