[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally posted by sapper740
The canard wings have nothing to do with whether the aircraft is pulled or pushed through the air. (see Wright Flyer, Vari-eze, B1 bomber, Valkyrie et al) Its all about having sufficient control surfaces to fly the a/c. Aircraft need ailerons, elevators, and rudder(s) to fly as well as lift in the right places for straight and level flight. (We're not going to get into flying wings which make use of "flaperons") Using Canard wings reduces drag and makes the aircraft more efficient. Important note! Look closely and you'll see most Canard wings are relatively straight while the main wing is swept back. There is a very important reason for this. The Canard wing must stall first before the main spar or the bottom will drop out of your a/c. Witness the Curtiss "Ascender", an attempt late in the war to build a canard winged a/c. The test pilot's called it the "Ass-ender" as the main wing would stall before the Canard wing and the tail would fall creating an exceptionally high beta (angle of attack) and and the a/c would rapidly descend tail first. The name "Canard" came from an early Paris Airshow when one of the first a/c using a canard wing flew by. I don't remember if it was the Vari-eze or not. A Frenchman asked "Que est-ce c'est?" and some wag responded, "C'est un Canard!" (It's a Duck!)

CHIMO!

OK. Sapper, I have been hoist by mine own canard!