Abstract
Eliminating vertical tails can be advantageous from a stealth perspective, as well as from a purely aerodynamic standpoint. However, flight dynamic considerations favor stabilizing surfaces. To get the best of both worlds, a folding fin solution can be used. Thereby, the aircraft gets the aerodynamic and signature benefits in certain phases of flight, while keeping the stabilizing actions in others. A significant weight penalty is, of course, associated with any moving structure. For this reason, a trade-off study is presented in this paper, evaluating the costs and benefits of such a technology. The concept of a combat aircraft featuring folding vertical tails is analyzed and compared against a conventional design, featuring fixed twin fins.
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