Why Some Fighter Jets Have Twin-Tail Designs
Story by Justin Surette • Yesterday 3:30 AM
Except for flying wings such as the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, or a certain B-52H that sustained significant damage to the tail while flying (and landed safely), aircraft feature a vertical stabilizer. Generally, an aircraft’s empennage, also known as the tail assembly, comprises multiple parts and is designed to keep planes stable. One piece of the rear of an aircraft is its vertical stabilizer, for which there are several designs.
Notably, commercial airliners typically feature a single fin, though comparing passenger jets to military combat aircraft doesn’t quite make sense. Some fighters also have only one fin, although, especially from the World War II era, many have been produced with twin tail designs. As multiple combat jets from different manufacturers have used this kind of tail assembly over the years, there’s probably a good reason for it; as such, there are certain advantages and disadvantages to using a twin tail.
Enhanced control at high speeds
Firstly, as explained by NASA, fighter jets are fitted with one or more highly potent engines. These aircraft are incredibly capable, especially in terms of speed, and often able to push the limits of controlled flight. As a result, some may have two tails and rudders to provide extra control of the plane and keep them stable when reaching their maximum speeds.
This is not to say a single tail is especially inferior here; plenty of modern fighters use a single tail. Comparing the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, both are phenomenal products of engineering, while the former features a twin tail design and the latter a single tail.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-some-fighter-jets-have-twin-tail-designs/ar-AA1bImV0?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=1cb937f752344506a484bc9edfe328bc&ei=23
