Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ssc-vax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!wanttaja From: wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja) Newsgroups: net.aviation Subject: Instability for control Message-ID: <110@ssc-vax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Sep-84 17:48:17 EDT Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.110 Posted: Thu Sep 27 17:48:17 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 4-Oct-84 02:11:46 EDT Organization: Boeing Aerospace, Seattle Lines: 27 > Destabilizing an aircraft for improved performance is the latest leap > in aircraft technology. Of course, the triple redundant control system > is needed since a failure of a systems would make the aircraft impossible > to control. Yes, well, if you run your reference point for "latest" back to about 1903 or so. The Wright brothers used a canard configuration BECAUSE it was inherently unstable... they wanted an aircraft that could be controlled. If I remember right, they were concerned about excessive stability that was a result of aft-mounted stabilization surfaces. And realize, they also had Fly-By-(piano) Wire control |-). The Wrights did decide that properly designed "Arrow Stability" (the term for it, back then) allowed sufficient control, and left the canard configuration (dare I say it?) behind in the Wright B model. Ron Wanttaja (ssc-vax!wanttaja) "Don't give me a P-38 with engines that counter-rotate, It'll loop, roll, and spin... And then auger right in, Don't give me a P-38" I'm not serious... I'll take any P-38s offered...