Author Topic: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab  (Read 7632 times)

Offline Vinkman

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2884
Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« on: November 01, 2010, 08:55:24 AM »
It seems to me that the flight model in AH prevents any control of a plane with a vertical stabilizer. This seems artificial to me, but I don't fly a real plane, and am not an aeronautics engineer. there are many pilots on here, and it would seem a few aero engineers and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with flight after the loss of a rudder and verical stablizer? It seems to me that rolling the plane and using elevator control could be used to control the plane, albiet in a very crude way, to at least maintain a heading, and possibly land.

Has anyone accomplished a landing after the loss of a vertical Stabilizer in AH?

Anyone else think it should be possible?


 :salute Vinkman
Who is John Galt?

Offline nrshida

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 8581
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2010, 09:00:49 AM »
It is possible more than 50% of the time.

Edit: I ought to elaborate though, your use of the word 'land' might be misleading. You certainly can't head back to the airfield of your choice. I mean it is possible to control your attitude and get down safely with a nice gentle ditch. Depends on your definition of landing, but if you could walk away safely...
« Last Edit: November 01, 2010, 09:10:10 AM by nrshida »
"If man were meant to fly, he'd have been given an MS Sidewinder"

Offline FiLtH

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 6448
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2010, 09:09:01 AM »
  I would think that without a vert stab you would be like a leaf in the wind.

~AoM~

Offline Vinkman

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2884
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2010, 09:13:57 AM »
It is possible more than 50% of the time.

Edit: I ought to elaborate though, your use of the word 'land' might be misleading. You certainly can't head back to the airfield of your choice. I mean it is possible to control your attitude and get down safely with a nice gentle ditch. Depends on your definition of landing, but if you could walk away safely...

I'd take a nice gentile ditch. Haven't been able to make the plane do anything, lose pitch and roll control which seems wrong to me. So you make it down half the time?
Who is John Galt?

Offline Karnak

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 23047
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2010, 09:15:47 AM »
Flew a Mossie about 45 miles and landed gear down on the runway after losing my vertical stabilizer in a collision with a Spitfire Mk VIII.  Just can't let yourself bank very much.  It also got squirrly as my speed dropped for landing.
Petals floating by,
      Drift through my woman's hand,
             As she remembers me-

Offline mechanic

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 11308
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2010, 09:19:42 AM »
The vertical stab is there for a reason, namely that flying becomes next to impossible without one. Having said that, the 109E does fly pretty good without one.
And I don't know much, but I do know this. With a golden heart comes a rebel fist.

Offline Vinkman

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2884
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2010, 09:22:29 AM »
The vertical stab is there for a reason, namely that flying becomes next to impossible without one. Having said that, the 109E does fly pretty good without one.

Hmm. OK maybe it's just me then. I'll keep practicing.  :D
Who is John Galt?

Offline nrshida

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 8581
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2010, 09:24:02 AM »
I'd say a lot more than half the time. Since I usually lose my stab to an act of supreme lameness, such as a HO or a lateral shot when fighting someone else, I mostly try to deny the the kill in those cases. It's become a sort of hobby of mine. Will look later and see if I have any on film.

Like Karnak eludes to you have no control over your yaw, the trick is to keep your nose pointed slightly below the horizon (mostly) and stay fast enough for a flair at the end. Don't be alarmed by your airspeed indicator, you are often going sideways or even slightly backwards here and there.

Strange topic. Filth described the analogy very well.
"If man were meant to fly, he'd have been given an MS Sidewinder"

Offline mechanic

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 11308
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2010, 09:33:01 AM »
Will look later and see if I have any on film.




Here is a film. You talking about like this one? :)

http://www.freeroleentertainment.com/la7_landed_no_stab_0603.ahf
And I don't know much, but I do know this. With a golden heart comes a rebel fist.

Offline VonMessa

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 11922
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2010, 09:35:18 AM »
I wouldn't want to be the guy trying to land a taildragger in a cross-wind without a vert stab.
Braümeister und Schmutziger Hund von JG11


We are all here because we are not all there.

Offline Tupac

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 5056
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2010, 09:43:20 AM »
I wouldn't want to be the guy trying to land a taildragger in a cross-wind without a vert stab.
:noid
"It was once believed that an infinite number of monkeys, typing on an infinite number of keyboards, would eventually reproduce the works of Shakespeare. However, with the advent of Internet messageboards we now know this is not the case."

Offline TinmanX

  • Persona Non Grata
  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1242
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #11 on: November 01, 2010, 09:49:03 AM »
Not really a landing but I certainly felt in control as I ditched, v-stabless from 4k, avoiding a few potshots on the way.
http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/4MfOTCkq-c0sCCk8Z335i_61tAkxikl3kwGnBJX9ghVMztsmgn7oOLX7SNWdfha3r4UkXrs4RJQdnjd2Rx0y/Films/4k%20ditch.ahf
"...and then we discovered why. Why this 'Cheech', who had fought with gods and demons, why he flew the Zeke. He was being kind, giving us a chance to run away."
Aces High Films
I'm the "timid" "runner" in the zeke "BnZing" you.

Offline nrshida

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 8581
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2010, 09:49:29 AM »
Yup, there you go. 5.2 for artistic merit Batty.
"If man were meant to fly, he'd have been given an MS Sidewinder"

Offline StokesAk

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3665
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2010, 09:51:58 AM »
A mossie once was able to shoot me and tear me up with no vertical stab, I shot it off and he continued to fly unharmed for 1-2 minutes.
Strokes

Offline mechanic

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 11308
Re: Plane can't fly without Vertical Stab
« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2010, 09:53:45 AM »
Quote
5.2 for artistic merit.



wooohoo!  :D
And I don't know much, but I do know this. With a golden heart comes a rebel fist.