Question

Short and fat fuselage will have ___________

(a) lower tail arm

(b) higher tail arm

(c) higher fineness ratio

(d) higher wetted area

I had been asked this question during an interview.

I'd like to ask this question from Configuration Layout topic in section Configuration Layout Considerations of Aircraft Design

Answer 1

The correct choice is (a) lower tail arm

Easiest explanation: Tail arm is nothing but the distance between cg of tail to cg of an aircraft, typically. Short and fat fuselage will have shorter tail arm or tail moment arm. Size of the fuselage will be reduced for such case and as a result of which the tail arm will be reduced.