This is a specialized technical text, so it is rarely found for free legally due to copyright held by AIAA. However, you can access it through the following methods:
: Achieved through methods such as reflexed airfoils (where the trailing edge curves upward to act like a built-in tail) or wing sweep with washout (twisting the wing so the tips have a lower angle of attack) . tailless aircraft in theory and practice pdf
However, some aircraft designers have questioned whether a tail section is really necessary. In theory, a tailless aircraft can achieve stability and control through other means, such as: This is a specialized technical text, so it
By sweeping the wings back and twisting the tips so they have a lower angle of attack (washout), the wingtips act as the "tail." Because they are physically behind the center of gravity, any lift generated at the tips helps stabilize the pitch of the aircraft. 3. Historic Evolution: From Lippisch to Northrop In theory, a tailless aircraft can achieve stability
The most famous practical application of tailless theory is Jack Northrop’s series of flying wings: the N-1M, N-9M, and the YB-49 bomber. These aircraft demonstrated the theoretical benefits—low drag, high lift-to-drag ratio, and large internal volume. However, they also exposed the gap between theory and practice. The YB-49 suffered from at high angles of attack and aerodynamic “porpoising” in pitch. These issues, documented in declassified PDF reports, eventually led to the program’s cancellation in favor of conventional bombers.
: Use of trailing edges that curve upward to produce a positive pitching moment.