I had always seen the airplane apparently from a front quarter view. In it the wheels looked like they are right in front of the tail. A real side view sure changes things. I don't think I need to ask the question anymore.

Thanks Paul.

It is a rather homely beast in either configuration. Not the kind of airplane that, when standing around swapping war stories, you want to say you worked on. The word functional comes to mind. But indeed it does work.