Abstract: A short coupled airplane with variable wing lift comprising a fuselage that is free of the conventional tail assembly and has a wing structure comprising a plurality of short span wing segments spaced apart longitudinally of the fuselage with the forwardmost wing section being located forwardly of and above the level of the aircraft center of gravity, and the rearwardmost wing section being located rearwardly of, and below the level of the aircraft center of gravity. The wing sections at their projecting ends on either side of the airplane are connected by vertical airfoils each equipped with a rudder. The wing sections along their trailing edges are each equipped, on either side of the fuselage, with full span, vertically swingable members that combine the functions of flaps and elevators (and are thus called eleflaps). The eleflaps and rudders are respectively moved in unison to elevate, lower, and steer the aircraft.