Flying Wing - Borderline Cases

Borderline Cases

Some aircraft have no fuselage but do have a horizontal stabilizer mounted on one or more booms. Strictly, these are not flying wings although they are usually referred to as such. An example is the Northrop X-216H, which has a tail stabilizer mounted on two tail booms but is regarded as Northrop's first flying wing type.

Many hang gliders and microlight aircraft are tailless. Although often referred to as flying wings, these types carry the pilot (and engine where fitted) below the wing structure rather than inside it, and so are not true flying wings.

An aircraft of sharply-swept delta planform and deep center section represents a borderline case between flying wing, blended wing body and/or lifting body configurations.