# B-24 & B-25 tail design **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 19, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-24-b-25-tail-design/99059 "2002-03-19T17:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-24-b-25-tail-design/99059/21 "2002-03-21T18:15:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kamandi \* > \*\* > > That’s a good point. On those twin-engined aircraft most of the structure required to carry two fins is already in place. Putting two fins on an F-16 would require a significant weight increase. > > \*\* Both Joint Strike Fighter candidates (X-35 and X-36) had single engines and double tails. The X-35 is destined to become the F-35 and replace the F-16, F/A-18, AV-8B Harrier, and A-6 Intruder in US and allied service. I’m sure that General Dynamics had a reason for going with a single tail rather than double tails on the F-16, most likely weight and complexity, since the F-16 was intended as an inexpensive, lightweight dogfighter. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-24-b-25-tail-design/99059/22 "2002-03-22T15:07:06Z")
Fighters are also designed as far as possible to avoid having any inside right-angle intersections, which have the nasty characteristic of reflecting radar beams right back at the sender. The F/A-18, for instance, has the vertical stabilizers canted to each other and at an odd angle to the fuselage top, and forward of the horizontal stabilizers, just for that reason. With a single tail, it’s hard to avoid having a right angle at the fuselage junction, and stealth considerations may outrank weight and drag in the design. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-24-b-25-tail-design/99059.md?page=1)