GERMAN V-2 . . . NEUTRAL STABILITY ?

[Ez2cDave]

I believe that the Early versions of the German V-2 rocket suffered from "Neutral Stability", which corrected itself, after sufficient fuel was burned to move the CG forward . . .

The problem was corrected, in later flights.

This video shows the basis for my hypothesis :



Dave F.

 

[waltr]

Very likely they did design for neutral stability since there were Thrust vectoring vans to provide directional guidance.

In the first flight in the video the non-straight up course looks to be guidance system over-corrections.

 

[cerving]

Overcorrections or lack of response... if there's a lag in the corrections that would do it too.

 

[cls]

The engineers knew the fin span was too narrow to be effective, but it had to fit on the railway.

Also, V2s tumble at apogee, which randomizes the landing location, more effective weapon of terror that way.