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Inverted V-tail advantages?

Posted by Irfan Mohamed on March 25, 2010 at 1:38pm
Did some googling on military UAVs and it came up with this nice site, listing 30 UAVs currently in use and for future deployment.

09-rq-7.jpg


http://www.popsci.com/technology/gallery/2010-02/gallery-future-drones

I found the inverted v-tails on some of them interesting, can anyone enlighten me on the advantages they present compared to normal v-tails or even more conventional tailplanes? I've seen one or two blog posts with similar mods, but it seems all it does is save weight.


http://uavkes.blogspot.com <- our blog


Tags: inverted, v-tail
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Comments

  • frederic reblewski March 29, 2010 at 9:04am
    it adds clearance at take-off and landing time, too
  • Firefly March 29, 2010 at 4:26am
    One of the big advantages I have heard in favor of inverted V tail designs is its stability in cross wind situations. For an example when hit by a cross wind gust on landing the inverted V will cause the airplane to pitch up as opposed to diving into the ground. It shouldn't make any difference when used with an autopilot but many military UAVs are remotely piloted during landing.
  • john bero March 25, 2010 at 6:53pm
    How does it do in a flat spin situation? I know the standard V tail configeration has some negative history with unrecoverability. Sort of an Urban myth. Anyone?
  • Xander March 25, 2010 at 4:12pm
    So the V tail can function as the only control surfaces on the plane? Would that fly similar to a flying wing without any true yaw (roll and pitch to turn)?
  • Irfan Mohamed March 25, 2010 at 3:45pm
    Thanks for all the help, I'll definitely be considering this setup in a future project :)
  • Melih Karakelle March 25, 2010 at 2:59pm
    Standart V tails works like counter aileron and reduces aileron effect.
    Inverted V tails works like an aileron and plane can turn perfect without aileron.
    Aileronless design = removable and rigid wings.
  • Andrew Burns March 25, 2010 at 2:36pm
    We're going for that layout in our design because:
    - Twin boom pusher is safer to be around on the ground
    - V tail has slightly lower drag
    - No protruding cantilever structures (like fins) so it's stiffer and less likely to catch on things
    - Keeps more of the control surfaces up away from the prop wash, at least the middle of the prop wash
    - As you can see in that photo the top makes a good place to put antennae :P
  • Mike Bakula March 25, 2010 at 2:15pm
    I agree with stikmunkey, inverted-V provides some pro-verse yaw. If you size the elevons and set the v-angle correctly, you can get coordinated turns with little or no aileron, for your design condition. (And the twin-boom setup really is safer.)
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