YK cang wrote jokingly (re: why don't we see more canards and flying wings): They could probably get as much population as those standard configuration at first, but the pilots have difficulties in reprograming their brain in reverse hand eye coordination in flying the thing backwards cofused enough it fall out from the sky. :-) The need for stability was early appreciated, but control with stability didn't come until the advent of the modern plane. So before the Wrights' Flyer (which in essence was a flying wing with a forward elevator - it wasn't a stabilsating surface, thus not a canard, as it is defined today) we had utterly stable planes - that flew straight ahead, no matter what happened, or what the pilot did - he could affect the trim slightly, but any gusts usually led to a so called controlled crash. The Wrights showed that you need control, lots of control and not necessarily stability. Their first flight in France was a shock to the European (read Franch) aviators. But then some managed to combine a moducum of stability, which the Flyer didn't have any of, with a modicum of manouvrability and there we had the modern plane! Some were in essence modified box kites that grew engines and controls, some like the dainty Demoiselle was so small and petite that only a petite pilot, like Santos-Dumont, the aircraft's designer, could fly it, and the rest is history! And the Wrights' aircraft grew heavy tails, in addition to the - for the time being - retained forward elevator! Still the quest for stability and controlabilty makes canards - and flying wings - difficult if you also wants speed range, super efficiency and control authority. The Burt Rutan range of canards have shown what can be done, but his latest planes, like the Boomerang, are conventional (engines up front, then the main wing followed by a stabilisator and fin(s)), if still utter unconventional in looks! =================================== Now a question: Which was the first true delta to fly (that is which was the first jet-powered, manned, delta-winged aicraft)? The answer given by Air International was a surprise even to me: Saab J-35 Draken! Why don't we see models of that one on the slopes? Tord, Sweden -- If reply difficulties - use [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tord S. Eriksson, Ovralidsg.25:5, S-422 47 Hisings Backa, Sweden RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
