| Removal of the Stress Plates before
removal of the Horizontal Stabilizers, on this plane they're actually called
the UHT (Unit Horizontal Tail). This is called the UHT because both sides
of the horizontal tail move exactly the same time. These are not really
horizontal stabilizers because there is no fixed portion of the horizontal.
Most planes have a horizontal stabilizer and an elevator. On the A-7 there
is only a moveable part and no fixed portion.
On planes like the F-14 Tomcat and all of the modern
jet fighters, there is no UHT. Both sides move independently of each
other, totally controlled by the flight computer. The horizontal tail on
modern jet fighters provides both pitch and roll components of the aircraft
movements. On the A-7, the horizontal tail provides only pitch movement.
The newer jet fighters with the independently moveable horizontal tails
supplement the roll axis control that ailerons only control on the A-7 and most
other civilian aircraft. The independently moveable horizontal tail
greatly enhances the control of the aircraft at all air speeds.
Click Here's a short story. When I was attached to
VA-125 I watched a sailor run down the back of the A-7 and then jump on the UHT.
This was a very regular thing for young men to do when they were working on top
of the airplane and then were ready to get down. But, this time, someone
had the hydraulic cylinder disconnected and there was nothing holding the UHT
solid. The entire tail pitched down and he had a big surprise as he was
spit off of the back of the airplane and onto his, well, I will let you fill
that last word in. |
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