RCU Forums - View Single Post - Balancing a canard or tandem wing biplane for initial flight.
Old 11-03-2009, 10:14 PM
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Lnewqban
 
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Default RE: Balancing a canard or tandem wing biplane for initial flight.

ORIGINAL: rc bugman

I don't dis-believe your explanations but somehow I am missing the logic.
Let's try the logic of the arrow:

Feathers in an arrow create an artificial drag that is necessary in order to achieve a stable flight.
The CG (located by the middle point of the arrow) is forward of the center of drag, or vice-versa.

Then, the airstream will keep that center of drag directly behind the CG (around which the arrow rotates for any disturbance).

If the arrow starts flight with the feathers pointing forward (case similar to a tail heavy airplane, for which the CG is aft the center of drag or aerodynamic center or neutral point), the airstream will force the arrow to rotate around the CG by dragging that point of resistance or center of drag, and placing it directly behind the CG, as it should be.

In other words, a tail heavy airplane (regardless the type or configuration), will be forced by the air stream to fly tail first, with disastrous consequences.