What is the “split” tail?
The split tail is a cutout in the center of the elevator, in the area where most of the slipstream passes the elevator. It’s not completely cut out, but for a bit more than a yard in the middle there’s not much elevator surface. Since the slipstream follows the fuselage to narrow as it goes back, the cutout matches the slipstream fairly well. In keeping with the design philosophy of having the same behavior and trim from no power to full power, the “split” elevator accomplishes this pretty well. To get the same authority as earlier models had, the split elevator is allowe 20 degrees of up travel (compared to 13 degrees on the C model and 9 degrees on the D model). Some later models also had a pre-loaded spring added to the system so the pilot feels a “stop” at 65 mph to give warning this is as slow as you should normally glide, but additional pressure allows the full up elevator and touchdown near 50 mph. This is a very smart and valuable improvement to the Coupe design. It was first i
