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Old 12-12-2002 | 09:21 PM
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TexasAirBoss
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Default horizontal stabilizer dihedro

Many many airplanes have dihedral in the tail. This practice goes back a long way.

You will see it in many twins. From the B26 and Tigercat and many WWII twin aircraft.

You will also find it jet transports . It is in all Boeings less the 727. The DC8 and in Airbuses.

Stab dihedral is in modern twins like King Airs and Saabs, and Cheyenes and most low wing turbine twins without T tails.

If you look at high wing twins like the Rockwell Commander or the Grumnan Tracker you will see the dihedral is very pronounced. And the Mars! Wow. You generally see more on the high wing multi's.

You generally won't find it in single engine aircraft or in multi's with T tails.

I believe the number one reason for having dihedral in the tail is simply to place the tail surfaces in clean air. There are some other benefits.

Some of the weirder tails in fighters mentioned may have been designed to help hide the hot exhaust.