Aha! Here my book actually helps me- are you talking about the stick fixed neutral point or the stick free neutral point? In other words the neutral point where there is a fly-by-wire configuration or the mechanical configuration (stick free)?

The stick fixed neutral point of an airplane is nothing but the aerodynamic center of that airplane where about which the airplane is neutrally stable in pitch. The formula for calculating the static margin of an airplane, and consequently the neutral point location, Lnp, is in the attachment. I would assume that this neutral point would be much close to the center of gravity and the static margin would be smaller in canard designs than of conventional designs? The only advantage of canard deswigns would be to put the wing into the stabs vortex and make it more efficient and also to get rid of the tail in roder to put up large propellers or other equipment?

Can someone explain to me why during ground effect it is BAD that the wing produces less downwash and the stab therefore gets less of it, and the neutral point thus moves back? How come it is GOOD when you put a wing in front of a wing so that the rear wing produces less downwash? How does that work? Is downwash GOOD? And if it is, how come piltos try to avoid it when following other aircraft so as that they do not get into turbulent flow?

Lafayette.