Vintage Aviation News

JANUARY 30, 2025

A short 18 months later, on August 13, 1937, the XPB2Y-1 took to the skies for the first time, revealing plenty of room for improvement lateral instability was a major problem for the deep-hulled boat, so the single tail fin was augmented by two smaller fins on the horizontal stabilizers.

Horizontal Stabilizer 111

Horizontal Stabilizer Final Approach Tail Runway 111

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

There, the dimensions of the two vertical stabilizers were increased, and a third stabilizer with no rudder was added to the tail to counteract yaw instability. The aircraft took off from Villacoublay and landed 45 minutes later at the Flight Test Centre in Brtigny-sur-Orge for further evaluation.

Tail 66

Tail Cargo Stability Rudder 66

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

An elegantly simple rope system inside the fuselage raises and lowers the Gweduck’s water rudder mounted inside the base of the main rudder (right). From the pilot’s seat it cruises near effortlessly and handles nimbly on land or water with a great combination of stability and modest control pressures.

Airplanes 78

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 78