What is the best shape for an airplane wing?
Many airplanes have been designed with linearly tapered wing shapes. They offer a good compromise between weight and structural efficiency, enhancing aerodynamic performance by reducing induced drag and improving fuel efficiency. Tapered Straight Wing In the design of the Tapered Straight Wing, the leading edge remains straight, but the trailing edge tapers inward as it moves toward the wingtip. This creates a more aerodynamically efficient shape compared to a full rectangular wing, while still being relatively simple to manufacture.Many airplanes have been designed with linearly tapered wing shapes. They offer a good compromise between weight and structural efficiency, enhancing aerodynamic performance by reducing induced drag and improving fuel efficiency.The shape of the aircraft wing induces a flow-turning effect on the air, thus generating a downward force exerted on the air. According to Newton’s third law, this upward reaction force is exerted on the aircraft wing, which is the lift. Top view of tapered wings.Tapered (Trapezoidal) Wing Design. The tapered wing is a slightly modified variation of the rectangular wing. Trapezoidal wing configurations have straight edges, and a straight tapered wing tips, and are advantageous for high-speed flight.
What is the shape of an airplane wing?
The shape of the wing, when viewed from above looking down onto the wing, is called a planform. For a rectangular wing, the chord length at every location along the span is the same. For most modern aircraft, the chord length varies along the span, and the leading and trailing edges may be swept. The ends of the wing are called the wing tips, and the distance from one wing tip to the other is called the span. The shape of the wing, when viewed from above looking down onto the wing, is called a planform. For a rectangular wing, the chord length at every location along the span is the same.A cut through the wing perpendicular to the leading and trailing edges will show the cross-section of the wing. This cross-section is called an airfoil, and it has some geometry definitions of its own as shown at the lower right.