Can You Land a Fighter that has It's Tail Shot Off? Maybe!

[Getback]

I'm not sure about most planes but with an F6 and an F4 it's possible.

It depends on altitude and timing.

I'm not certain of the maximum altitude but maybe 500 feet or less, probably less.

Once you realize you are gently floating down and have no control here's what you do.

First, go full throttle and with WEP if you have it. You want as much air under those wings as possible.

Second, keep an eye on your altitude meter. You'll have to guestimate on when to deploy the flaps. If you deploy them to early the plane will tilt forward and you may nose into mother earth. The flaps act like a parachute of sorts.

Third, immediately after deploying full flaps lower the landing gear. Lowering flaps and gear is almost simultaneous. The idea of deploying landing is to have the gear cushion the landing. The landing gear will also cause the plane to tilt forward. The gear on the CV planes are built for tough landings. If you deploy the gear and flaps a hair too soon you best ride it out and pray.

Last, Chop that throttle upon impact. While you may be amazed you survived it's no time to pat yourself on the back...yet. No reason to make an incredible landing then to hit a building and die.

I've depressed many once giggly excited cons with this maneuver.

[atlau]

Video or it didn't happen!

[Wiley]

I once ditched a 262 after losing the Vstab.  It was basically floating down like a leaf, I figured I was done, but I noticed my climb rate gauge was in a very survivable range, so I chose to ride it down and keep it as level as possible.  I couldn't really control much other than keeping it somewhat level, but I did get a good ditch in the ocean.

Wiley.

[Getback]

Video or it didn't happen!

I wish I did.

[Flayed1]

 Don't know if it is still this way but some time ago I found I could fly the Mossie back to base and land with no vertical stab.  It was pretty mushy and you didn't want to make any quick maneuvers but over all it flew well for missing such an important piece.

[icepac]

Mossie was good for that but, if you lost too many parts from the back, it would nose over when hitting the brakes.

[Wolfala]

Short answer, yes. The A-20 has a empennage like a V tail Bonanza, and with careful handling I can get it down.  Videos are from AH 2 but they exist.

[Mongoose]

Depends on which airplane and what part of the tail.  If you lose your rudder, you still have some control over the plane. If you lose the elevators, you loose vertical control, and landing is nearly impossible in most planes.  Note that I said nearly.

[Train45]

on aircraft with high speed flaps landing with no elevators is easy.

never been able to fly anything without a vert stab.

[Shuffler]

I landed a 262 from about 12K one time. I was told my tail was gone but I was still able to baby it down with no turns. This was in AHII.