Tailless aircraft stability with a bio-inspired rotating tail
Wind-tunnel tests of a tailless aircraft configuration. The vertical tail of an F-16 baseline is replaced by a rotating horizontal tail inspired by bird flight. The tests measure static stability derivatives and control effectiveness.
- Capability
- Aerospace testing
- Sector
- Aircraft stability and control
- Method
- Subsonic wind-tunnel testing
- Published
- AIAA Regional Student Conferences 2024
Challenge, method, outcome
Challenge
An aircraft without a vertical tail is statically unstable. Removing the tail can cut weight, drag and electromagnetic signature and improve agility, if the instability can be controlled.
Method
Remove the F-16 vertical tail and fit a rotating horizontal tail. Measure forces and moments at several tail rotation angles and Reynolds numbers in the wind tunnel.
Outcome
Several tail rotation angles gave lateral and directional static stability comparable to the standard F-16. The data supports later flight-dynamics and control work.
Related published work
- 2024Wind Tunnel Evaluation of Control Effectiveness of an F-16 with a Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage
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- 2020Dynamic Stability Analysis of Bluff Body Re-Entry Vehicles using Varying Input Excitation