RCU Forums - View Single Post - BVM F-16 : tailerons only ???
View Single Post
Old 12-03-2002 | 04:21 PM
  #6  
MiragePilot's Avatar
MiragePilot
My Feedback: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 338
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
From: Tucson, AZ
Default BVM F-16 : tailerons only ???

The biggest problem with walking down the "taileron path" (i.e. no ailerons) has been pointed out by Dave Ribbe above....ZERO REDUNDANCY. If you lose either taileron servo or linkage, your jet will be an instant lawn dart. Been there, seen that, done it :-(

I used to keep a running total of all the Avond F-15's and AD Mirage 2000s that had made smoking holes in the ground after a taileron/stabilator failure, and lost count a while ago.....
In my opinion, removing ailerons in favor of stabilators/tailerons for a jet larger than .45 DF sized (and especially if it is turbine powered) is not a smart move.

Peter