So why did the P-38 have a twin tail. I think it is a pretty cool
looking bird. I think the bird the "Doolittle Raiders" flew had a twin
tail too.

Fred

Chris W wrote:
I got such a good answer on my question about flap design I thought I
would ask another design question. why would a plane that has two
engines have two vertical stabilizers. No in the case of the Aircoupe I
always thought the reason for the twin tail was so that the helical prop
wash wouldn't induce a yaw tendency from the prop wash hitting the
vertical stabilizer/rudder. It is my understanding that the Aircoupe
was designed so you wouldn't need rudder pedals, and the twin tail I
think would have helped that. But on a twin engine, what's the point?
having two vertical stabilizers and two rudders seems significantly more
complicated both structurally and mechanically so why do it if there
isn't some advantage? There must be one I don't know about.


--
Chris Woodhouse
3147 SW 127th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73170
405-691-5206

N35° 20.492'
W97° 34.342'

"They that can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania