[NSRCA-discussion] Weather Vane

[James Oddino]

Hi Ed,

Yes, but....
If the airplane has very low forward speed along the track, like just  
before a spin, the plane will turn into the wind if the cp is behind  
the cg (statically stable).  Say the wind is from the left, the plane  
will turn left.  Now if we increase the forward speed along the  
track, the relative wind will hit the right side of the plane and  
turn it to the right, away from the crosswind.  So if the forward  
speed is much higher than the crosswind speed the greater area aft of  
the cg will actually counteract the weathervane effect.

Bottom line, we need a vertical stab and all that goes with it,  
although I've thought about a tail rotor on a pattern ship.  One of  
you young guys should try it.  Picture the perfect stall turns.

Jim O






On Oct 10, 2007, at 9:36 AM, Ed Alt wrote:

> Hi Ron:
>
> I wonder if the weathervane effect is there because of the greater  
> distribution of side area aft of the CG?  I’m not sure of that,  
> just an idea.
>
>
> Ed
>
>
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