"Andreas Maurer" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 09:14:13 GMT, "Gldcomp"
wrote:


Sorry to intrude, but Bert is correct.

The induced drag of a low aspect-ratio horizontal stab is
considerable, therefore the designer tries to minimize it at the speed
of max L/D - since L/D is still the main number to characterize the
performanc eof a glider, this is the number that needs to be
maximized.
The only case where induced drag is 0 is when the tail does not create
any Cl at all.

Situation at low speeds:
Don't forget that the center of pressure (CP) moves forward with
rising AoA, creating a nose-up momentum - and this needs to be
encountered by the tail (wich is therefore creating lift at speeds
below the speed of max. L/D). And vice versa.

Correction : The tail is generating LESS negative lift.

The more forward the CG position, however, the more DOWN force is
necessary
on the tail.
This is the very reason pilots try to place the CG aft in competition
gliders : so that the elevator doesn't have to produce quite so much DOWN
force on the tail. The result is improved climb because of this.

The aerodynamical benefit of an aft CG is the fact that the tail
airfoil with upwards deflected elevator has got an extremely bad L/D
due to its negative camber. Less upwards elevator deflection (due to
aft CG) drastically improves the L/D of the tail.

Exactly. And this is because the tail generates less negative lift.