Caster type empennage assembly for aircraft

An empennage assembly for aircraft, comprising:

• a fuselage;
• wing means secured to said fuselage for defining therewith an aerodynamic center;
• empennage means, including a vertical stabilizer having an aerodynamic center, and a horizontal stabilizer having an aerodynamic center;
• and
• boom means, upon which said empennage means are mounted, secured to at least one of said fuselage or wing means and extending longitudinally rearwardly of said aircraft for defining moment arms between said aerodynamic centers of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers and said aerodynamic center of said fuselage-wing means,
• said empennage means being rotatably secured to said boom means about the longitudinal axis of said boom means so as to alter the positions of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers relative to a horizontal plane which normally includes said horizontal stabilizer and thereby effectively counteract the tendency of the composite aerodynamic center of said aircraft, as defined by said aerodynamic center of said fuselage-wing means and said aerodynamic centers of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers, to shift its longitudinal location in the longitudinal direction of said aircraft as said aircraft traverses the subsonic, transonic, and high supersonic speed ranges so as to impart to said aircraft substantially constant longitudinal static stability throughout said subsonic, transonic, and high supersonic speed ranges as a result of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers acting through said moment arms.

An empennage assembly for aircraft, comprising:

• a fuselage;
• wing means secured to said fuselage for defining therewith an aerodynamic center;
• empennage means, including a vertical stabilizer having an aerodynamic center, and a horizontal stabilizer having an aerodynamic center;
• and
• boom means, upon which said empennage means are mounted, secured to at least one of said fuselage or wing means and extending longitudinally rearwardly of said aircraft for defining moment arms between said aerodynamic centers of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers and said aerodynamic center of said fuselage-wing means,
• said empennage means being rotatably secured to said boom means about the longitudinal axis of said boom means so as to alter the positions of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers relative to a horizontal plane which normally includes said horizontal stabilizer for simultaneously imparting to said aircraft substantially constant directional and longitudinal static stability throughout the subsonic, transonic, and high supersonic speed ranges as a result of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers acting through said moment arms.

An empennage assembly for aircraft, comprising:

• a fuselage;
• wing means secured to said fuselage for defining therewith an aerodynamic center;
• empennage means, including a vertical stabilizer having an aerodynamic center, and a horizontal stabilizer having an aerodynamic center;
• and
• boom means, upon which said empennage means are mounted, secured to at least one of said fuselage or wing means and extending longitudinally rearwardly of said aircraft for defining moment arms between said aerodynamic centers of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers and said aerodynamic center of said fuselage-wing means,
• said empennage means being rotatably secured to said boom means about the longitudinal axis of said boom means so as to alter the positions of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers relative to a horizontal plane which normally includes said horizontal stabilizer for imparting to said aircraft substantially constant directional static stability throughout an angle of attack range of at least between 0.degree.-15.degree. as a result of said vertical and horizontal stabilizers acting through said moment arms.