Boeing Stratocruiser folding fin?

[Stephan Wilkinson]

The Boeing Stratocruiser had a vertical fin that folded 92 degrees to the right (viewed from aft) so that the airplane could fit into existing hangars. Was this feature unique to the Model 377/Stratocruiser or were there other large airplanes of the time with folding fins?

[JohnB]

B-52s and KC-135s have that feature. Boeing must have liked it.
At my time at a couple of B-52 bases, I only saw folded fins a couple of times.

A USAF article on the B-52 feature:
https://www.barksdale.af.mil/News/Featu ... x-and-fly/
I
And one on a KC-135:
https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Photos/i ... 000876165/


And from Google a copyright-free USAF photo for your piece.

The story of that various twin and triple tail types went with the feature to allow them to use existing hangars, but wouldn't a folding fin night make more sense considering the extra drag and weight of the multiple fins?

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Last edited by JohnB on Sun Mar 12, 2023 2:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[K5DH]

The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior had a folding fin so that it could fit in the hangar deck of aircraft carriers.

[JohnB]

The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior had a folding fin so that it could fit in the hangar deck of aircraft carriers.

Good catch.
One time kids of a certain age will remember that from the box art from the first issue of the Revell A3D kit in 1957...before my time.
It was reissued with the same art in 1995.

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[Jerry O'Neill]

AJ-2 Savages had a fold down tail also!
Jerry

[Cubs2jets]

The North American A3J / RA5C Vigilante had a folding vertical fin.

C2j

[Hooligan2]

As per the KC-135, did the 707 not also have folding fin capability? Sure I've seen a pic of one...

[CAPFlyer]

Yes, the 707 retained the maintenance tail fold capability -

[old iron]

Thee were cases where the Vought F-8 Crusader took off (and flew and landed) with the wing tips folded. Any record of a plane taking off with the vertical tails folded - must have happened somewhere?

[CAPFlyer]

I can't think of one, but there is always the B-52 that flew with the fin missing.

[JohnB]

I can't think of one, but there is always the B-52 that flew with the fin missing.

But tellingly, the CAT did not cause a clean break at the fold junction.

[CAPFlyer]

True.

[menards]

The B-50 had a folding vertical stabilizer.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Thank you, everybody, for your very helpful suggestions.

[bdk]

I can't think of one, but there is always the B-52 that flew with the fin missing.

But tellingly, the CAT did not cause a clean break at the fold junction.

Wouldn't be a very good design if it did!