Sir - How can the McDonnell Douglas F-15 shown in the story "MDC pushes tailless F-15" (Flight International, 20-26 November, P5) be "tailless", when it has a "butterfly", or "V" tail?
If, as stated, the tail surfaces are removed completely, do we not then have a delta wing, which would require the fore-planes which most up-to-date delta-configured aircraft appear to have?
Also, in the event of a complete power failure, does the pilot have to eject because of loss of pitch and yaw control?
P GAMBARDELLA
Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
[Mr Gambardella is right. The correct term should be "reduced tail", but the generic term used by industry is "tailless". Ed]
Source: Flight International
