Canard (foreplane ahead of the wing) — dimension sheet
Source: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/canard/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)
Basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio
Catalog version: 2026-10-20

Sizes: see table below
- A canard is a horizontal surface ahead of the wing that lifts upward to hold the nose up, instead of pushing down like an aft tail; FAA notes it is theoretically more efficient because it helps carry the weight (PHAK ch.6).
- If the canard stalls before the wing, longitudinal stability and stall resistance increase (NASA TP-2623); in NASA's tunnel test, full elevator at mid c.g. could only trim to about 15 deg, below wing stall. At aft c.g. the same model showed a potential deep-stall trim near 53 deg, so c.g. limits matter.
- NASA's model needed an outboard leading-edge droop to stop premature wing-tip stall and wing rock (TP-2623).
- Used on: Wright Flyer, Piaggio P180, Beech Starship, X-29.
- The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above. Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.

parameter  value or range  source
Canard aspect ratio (NASA test model)  11.90 (wing 9.18)  NASA TP-2623
Trim limit, mid c.g., full elevator  about 15 deg AoA (below wing stall)  NASA TP-2623
Potential deep-stall trim, aft c.g.  about 53 deg AoA  NASA TP-2623
Outboard LE droop added  ~6% chord extension, ~3% camber on outer 25% span  NASA TP-2623
Reference build  canard 300 x 60 mm, arm 500 mm ahead of wing  illustrative

Files elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):
- FAA: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), Ch. 6 Flight Controls — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/08_phak_ch6.pdf
- NASA Langley (D. Satran): Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the Flight Characteristics of a Canard General-Aviation Airplane Configuration, NASA TP-2623 (1986) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19870000606/downloads/19870000606.pdf
- Kitplanes (B. Wainfan): Wind Tunnel: More Flying Fleas (2017) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.kitplanes.com/wind-tunnel-65/
- Kitplanes (B. Wainfan): Wind Tunnel: Vortex Generators and STOL Performance (2012) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.kitplanes.com/wind-tunnel-14/
- NASA Armstrong: X-29 Fact Sheet FS-008 — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/fs-008-afrc.pdf

Free files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/canard/index.json
API: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=canard