From: (Kirk Stant)

As far as V-tails go, anything to reduce wetted area
is good, right? ;-P

This is a bit of a myth, I think. You still need the same tail volume
regardless of tail configuration, so you end up with basically the
same wetted area. If you cut down the size of the tails, you start
having stability problems (the Bonanza was originally a bit marginal,
I think), which is probably how V-tails on gliders got their bad
reputation in the first place. HPs apparently got it right from the
start. The theoretical saving is in reduced interference drag due to
fewer intersections (less of an advantage compared to T-tails) and
reduced weight (a big advantage compared to T-tails).

Right. Also, according to Dick Schreder, the V-tail shares the T-tail's
advantage of being up out of harm's way if landing in tall crop. The
conventional tail suffers there. Dick also spoke of the advantage of the
V-tail for the metal home builder, which obviously applies to the HPs. Just
build 2 identical parts, mirror imaged.

-Doug

( "Flaps and V-Tails of Death", you gotta love that subject title)