Canard

Canard A canard is an aeronautical design configuration in which a small forewing or foreplane is placed forward of the main wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. The term "canard" is derived from the French word for "duck," as the configuration resembles the appearance of a duck in flight.

History

The canard configuration was first used in the early 20th century. One of the earliest examples is the Wright Flyer, which featured a forward elevator. The design gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s with the development of aircraft such as the Saab Viggen and the Dassault Rafale.

Design and Function

In a canard configuration, the foreplane provides additional lift and can improve the aircraft's maneuverability and stability. The canard can also help to delay the onset of a stall by ensuring that the foreplane stalls before the main wing, thus maintaining control of the aircraft.

Advantages

• Improved maneuverability
• Enhanced stability
• Delayed stall onset

Disadvantages

• Increased complexity in design
• Potential for increased drag

Applications

Canard configurations are used in various types of aircraft, including military jets, commercial planes, and experimental aircraft. Notable examples include the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Rutan VariEze, and the Burt Rutan-designed Long-EZ.

Related Concepts

• Delta wing
• Swept wing
• Wing configuration
• Aerodynamics

See Also

• Aircraft design
• Flight dynamics
• Aviation history
• Wright brothers