Aerodynamic center

…To make a canard aircraft aerodynamically stable, the wings are placed slightly behind the center of gravity to allow the wings to provide vertical stability. When the fore-aft position of the wings is brought closer to the center of gravity, the stabilizing effect becomes neutral when the aerodynamic center is aligned with the center of gravity, which is where the wings of a normal airplane are located. However, if the wings are attached so that their aerodynamic center is slightly behind the center of gravity, the wings alone can maintain vertical stability without the need for a tail, making it possible to create a tailless aircraft. …

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "aerodynamic center" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…そこで前翼機を空力的に安定にするには，主翼を重心よりやや後ろに置いて，主翼に縦安定作用をさせる。翼の前後位置を重心に近づけたとき，安定作用が中立になるのはその空力中心を重心に合わせた場合で，ふつうの飛行機の主翼はほぼこの位置にある。しかし主翼を空力中心が重心よりやや後ろにくるように取りつければ，尾翼なしでも主翼だけで縦安定を保つことができ，無尾翼機が作れる。…

※「空力中心」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報