Supplementary Free-Spinning-Tunnel Tests of a 1/16-Scale Model of the McDonnell XB-85 Airplane Equipped with a Conventional-Tail Arrangement

Spin tests have been conducted in the Langley free-spinning tunnel on a 1/16-scale model of the McDonnell XP-85 airplane with the normal X-tail replaced with a short-coupled conventional tail arrangement. The effect of the conventional tail arrangement and the effects of various modifications upon the spin and recovery characteristics of the model were determined. The results of the tests indicated that installation of the conventional tail arrangement wil not provide satisfactory recoveries from spins of the airplane. Satisfactory recoveries will be obtainable, however, either by installing in addition a very large ventral fin (17.94 sq ft, full-scale) below the tail or by decreasing the width of the fuselage and making it flat sided rearward of the wing trailing edge