09/30/2014. Remarks by
Johan Visschedijk: "Albert Gatard of St. Jean d'Angely near Rochefort, France, developed a new control system for aeroplanes, which involved the use of a variable incidence lifting tail plane of large area. Instead of altering the wing angle of attack to increase lift on the aircraft, the pilot lowers full-span slotted flaps and adjusts the tail plane to maintain pitching balance. In consequence, the aircraft climb with the fuselage incidence at no more than 4° to the horizontal, which preserves a good forward view and low body drag. Over the years Gatard designed a number of aircraft incorporating his ideas, including his control system which he named Statoplan: