F-4 Phantom and the Case of the Bent Tailplane...

[MichaelHenley]

OK, this may be a bit stupid, it might not...

Why does the F-4 Phantom have a bent tailplane? Ive never seen it on any other aircraft before or after it. It cant be like the A-10's tailplanes, used to deflect SAMs. So? What is it for?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

The guys who designed the aircraft figured it added stability though out the aircraft's operating ranges...

 

[evangilder]

Sounds reasonable to me, Joe. Probably factors like airflow and drag coefficients. Plus it just looked cool that way!

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Sounds reasonable to me, Joe. Probably factors like airflow and drag coefficients. Plus it just looked cool that way!

Yep, I asked the same thing of one of the guys I used to fly with...

 

[cheddar cheese]

Someone at ATC made a model of an F-4 and put the tailplane on upside down and back to front. Fools!

 

[evangilder]

Oy!

 

[Aggie08]

Sounds reasonable to me, Joe. Probably factors like airflow and drag coefficients. Plus it just looked cool that way!

Dang straight! I don't think there's much that can take on the Phantom for reputation/looks/awesomeness.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Someone at ATC made a model of an F-4 and put the tailplane on upside down and back to front. Fools!

What an idiot. I hope they did that on purpose.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

Someone at ATC made a model of an F-4 and put the tailplane on upside down and back to front. Fools!

martyn never really did know what he was doing though

 

[cheddar cheese]

Someone at ATC made a model of an F-4 and put the tailplane on upside down and back to front. Fools!

What an idiot. I hope they did that on purpose.

No, but it was built by a woman which partly explains it

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Wow, that is just bad.