Europeans tend to fly F3X events where we in the US fly AMA Duration tasks. F3X planes tend to be heavier in general than what we can use for AMA Duration. V-tail models tend to be slightly lighter, even though they have the same area (at least they should have the same area) as a cruciform tail.
V-tails take much more care to set up correctly, but a well trimmed V-tail model will fly as well as a cruciform tail. Dale Nutter, formerly of Tulsa, has/had the best trimmed V-tail planes I've ever flown. They handled just like a standard tail aircraft.
As one keen commenter noted, in the elevator function, it takes little movement for a V-tail to make the elevator correction, but in the rudder function, all you can get is usually just enough. We typically don't need to use differential with our elevator, but on a V-tail, we often need v-tail differential for both elevator and rudder functions. This is what takes time, getting this mix correct. Some people are willing to take the necessary time for V-tail set-up, some aren't. The plane shows the difference in flight.
And then again, some people just like the looks of a V-tail model and some like the looks of a standard tail. If I were to buy a Stratos for example, I'd get the V-tail version because it looks better to me. If I were to buy another Scar, I'd get the cruciform tail version.
You say tomato, I say tomahto.
George
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [RCSE] Thermal duration V or + tail
I've noticed that the Europeans seem to prefer the V tails but the Americans
seem to prefer the plus tails for thermal duration. Why the difference?
