Flat tailplane?

[Russell Bond]

Do we need an airfoiled tailplane and elevators on a full size stunter, or are flat ones ok, (just rounded off at the LE)?

If flat is ok, what sizes are best?

Is a sharp LE preferable over a blunt one on the tailplane?

Of course the elevators would have to be tapered to the TE, I assume.  

[Brian Hampton]

Assuming next Saturday is a reasonable flying day I'll bring along the airfoiled tailplane I use on my Interceptor design. It's hard to say just how much it benefited the performance because of a few other things I did with the design but IMO it certainly didn't hurt.

[Jim Thomerson]

I had a 1/2A stunt airplane with a 1/4 inch thick tail with rounded edges front and back.  It flew to suit me and I garnered some trophies with it in 1/2A stunt contests, back in the good old days. 

[Leo Mehl]

I use basically flat plane on elevater and flaps and just taper the back edge on both just a little and round the edges and this seems to work good.I have actually done it both ways wit and without a full taper and I frankly see only a small differeence in performance. I do like putting .5 to .8 positive incidence in the stab and it makes the tailplane fly higher which makes the flight look better and keeps everything flying inline like it should.

[Russell Bond]

Hi Leo,
Is that a full size stunter?
If so, how thick are the tail and elevators please?
I was thinking around 3/8ths, but I'm not sure if thicker is better. ☺

[Howard Rush]

Do we need an airfoiled tailplane and elevators on a full size stunter, or are flat ones ok, (just rounded off at the LE)?

If flat is ok, what sizes are best?

Is a sharp LE preferable over a blunt one on the tailplane?

Of course the elevators would have to be tapered to the TE, I assume. 

Search here for "Impact stab".  The Impact is a very successful Northern Hemisphere control line stunt plane.   It has the stabilizer shape you describe.  You will find a lot of recent discussion including analytical data. 

[Bob Reeves]

I see no reason at all for using an airfoild stab. Flat stabs are easier to build, easier to align and several very successful designs have proven they work.

[SteveMoon]

Having flown planes with and without airfoiled tailplanes I see no reason
the airfoiled variety. As Bob said previously flat stabs are easier to build and
align. For .60 size competition planes my brother and I both use 1/2" thick
stabs with rounded leading edges. Actually, he and I both build our stabs
17/32" thick as we build the hinge slots into the trailing edge. Doug currently
has a thread going in the building section and has plenty of photos showing
his stab and elevator build.

We build our elevators 13/32" thick; once again with built in hinge slots. The
elevators are tapered to 1/8" thick at the trailing edge. They are also flat;
no airfoil. This formula has worked for us on numerous planes.

Steve