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Aeronautical Engineering/Orientation of wings and tail on an aeroplane

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Expert: - 7/9/2011


Question
STOL aeroplane
STOL aeroplane
For my assignment i was as this question.
In a high wing STOL aeroplane, explain why the wing has a positive angle of incidence (attack) while the tailplane has a negative angle of incidence. I have absolutely no clue as to why it is designed that way, my only thoughts are balance, and making take-offs and landing easier. thanks.

Answer
Derrick - I assume that the positive wing angle was chosen so that in cruise the wing would provide adequate lift while still keeping the fuselage more or less level.  Otherwise, both wing and fuselage angle would have to be increased to get lift.  The tail angle is chosen for stability.  In this case it seems the aircraft has a tendency, due to wing moment, thrust vector and center of gravity, for nose down pitching moment. A negative tail angle would provide a nose up moment to balance the aircraft.  Of course the elevator and trim tab provide fine tuning of the moments.
Paul

Paul Soderman

Expertise

Aeronautics, Fluid Mechanics, Aeroacoustics, Noise Control, Muffler Design, Wind Tunnel Research.... I know nothing about India - do not ask about schools, jobs, application requirements, career choices, etc. for India. Please, no text message verbiage; I prefer full words in full sentences. Thanks.

Experience

38 years as research engineer at NASA

Publications
AIAA, NASA

Education/Credentials
B.S. and M.S. Aeronautical Engineering - U. of Washington Graduate work Standford U.

Awards and Honors
AIAA Associate Fellow (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

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