The vertical tail area refers to the total surface area of the vertical tail fin on an aircraft. This area is a critical aerodynamic parameter that contributes to the control of yawing motion and overall stability during flight. The vertical tail area plays a key role in influencing the aircraft’s yawing moment and is integral to the design and performance of the aircraft’s control surfaces. The vertical tail area directly impacts the vertical tail side force, with a larger area enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and the ability to control yawing motion for improved flight stability. The formula to calculate Vertical tail area as follows:
Where:
- Cv is the Vertical tail Lift curve slope in 1/rad,
- Yv is the Vertical Tail Side Force in N.
- Sv is the Vertical tail area in m2.
- αv is the Vertical tail angle of attack in radian.