Did the P-51 have a laminar flow wing?
Grant Hawthorn The P-51 wing wasn’t as “laminar” as it is often cited for being, and the Spitfire wing had a very high Mach number. The P-47 had a similar wing and the two traded top diving speeds at varying altitudes. Luftwaffe fighter pilots feared the Spitfire most, the Mk V entered service in early 1941, the first P 51 in 1942 and it was inferior, the P 51 D not until mid 1944, by then there were other Spitfires, the Mk IX and XII in 1942, the Mk VII, VIII and XIV in 1943, these were all better than the P51D.
What is the most efficient wing design?
An elliptical planform is the most efficient aerodynamic shape for an untwisted wing, leading to the lowest amount of induced drag. The elliptical wing was decided upon quite early on. Aerodynamically it was the best for our purpose because the induced drag, that caused in producing lift, was lowest when this shape was used; the ellipse was an ideal shape, theoretically a perfection.Tapered: wing narrows towards the tip. Structurally and aerodynamically more efficient than a constant chord wing, and easier to make than the elliptical type.