ASW-15 Why X and not T tail? Pros Cons

[Tom Frazier]

I currently fly 1/4 to 1/3 scale radio controlled sailplanes and I've always loved the look of the ASW-15. I plan on modeling a 1/3 scale some time in the furture.

I was wondering why Schleicher chose to use a X tail instead of the more conventional T tail. What are the pros or cons of this configuration.

Thanks,
Tom

Post edited by: tommyt, at: 2009/04/15 22:07

[Scott Alexander]

I'm no aerospace engineer!  But I can tell you that having an elevator on top of a rudder in a t-tail configuration requires a much much more stronger rudder to support the loads coming from the elevator on the top.

[Joshy]

The ASW15 ist the direct follower of the K6e.
The K6e had a damped x elevator, the wings at the schoulder.
They built a K6e a little bit modified in epoxy.
A little bit later the ASW17. Quite the same. Larger. Open class.
The following model ASW19 got the wings of the 15, a better fuselage and T-tail.

So, the reason is construction history.

BR,

Joshy