Barnaby Wainfan
Barnaby is a Technical Fellow for Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Design organization. A private pilot with single-engine and glider ratings, Barnaby has been involved in the design of unconventional airplanes including canards, joined wings, flying wings and some too strange to fall into any known category.
Design Process: Strakes and Ventral Fins
On some airplanes, the basic empennage does not provide acceptable flying qualities in all flight regimes. Supplemental surfaces to augment directional stability, improve high...
H-tails and Triple Tails
The majority of airplanes use the conventional tail configuration with a single, centrally mounted vertical tail and rudder. Sometimes, however, the vertical tail is...
Design Process: T-Tails
A T-tail is a configuration where the horizontal tail is mounted on top of the vertical tail rather than directly to the fuselage. T-tails...
Design Process: V-Tails
A V-tail is a configuration where the horizontal stabilizer and vertical fin are replaced by a pair of surfaces mounted at a high dihedral...
Design Process: Vertical Tail Spin Considerations
Not every airplane is designed to perform intentional spins, but that doesn’t mean the designer can safely ignore the effect of the vertical tail...
Design Evolution on Display
In the antique/classics parking at AirVenture this year we found a replica of Benny Howard's Mr. Mulligan parked between a pair of Howard DGA-15s....
Design Process: Vertical Tail Planform
The size and shape of the planform of the vertical tail determine its ability to perform its stabilizing and control functions.
In steady-state cruise flight,...
Design Process: The Rudder
The fixed portion of the vertical tail of an airplane provides directional stability. The rudder provides directional control.
When the pilot deflects the rudder, it...
Design Process: Vertical Tail Functions–Yaw Stability and Damping
The vertical tail performs multiple tasks to stabilize and control the airplane. This month we will explore what the vertical tail contributes to the...
Design Process: All-Moving Tails
A conventional horizontal tail has a fixed horizontal stabilizer with an elevator hinged to it to provide pitch control. The “fixed” portion of the...
In Case You Missed It
Building Before Kits
Ray Allen reminisces about building a Midget Mustang from scratch. By Ray Allen.
The Motivated Builder
Building an airplane ranks right up there as one of the most existential things you can do in your lifetime.
