Daft Question Time Again.

[rory]

On some twin engined piston aircraft the engines and props are handed , the Sea Hornet, Hs129 are two that I can think of off the top of my head and lets say that both the props on any given aircraft rotate in from the top.

Would it make any difference in handling if the engines were swapped to rotate out from the top?

One other daft question. On some single engined prop aircraft the tail fin is off set to one side to help counter the torque of the engine, the Blackburn Firebrand being the most obvious that I can think of, are the tail fins on single engined jets off set the same?

[Cap'n Wannabe]

Trying to remember back to my initial multi-engine training here, so bear with me..
On a twin with both engines rotating the same direction, you have what's called a "critical engine". This means that if that engine fails, the assymetric flight characteristics are different than if the non-critical engine fails, mainly due to the effect of the slipstream on the fuselage. I believe (but would have to look up my notes..) that whichever engine is turning towards the fuselage is the critical engine - if that engine fails, the tendency for the aircraft to yaw to that side is more pronounced, among other things.....makes it a bugger to keep straight with your rudder, particularly on landing.
In a single engine a/c, typically the thrust-line and the fin are offset so that the aircraft will fly straight in the cruise. At low power settings - thus little slipstream - (assuming the prop turns clockwise when viewed from the cockpit), this causes the aircraft to yaw to the right, so left rudder is needed to keep it straight - typically on approach and landing. At high power settings, the additional slipstream overcomes the thrustline/fin offset and causes the aircraft to yaw left, so right rudder is needed to correct it.
Not sure if this offset is needed in jet a/c - my guess is not because the thrust is directed more in a straight line..