Posted on 06/12/2015 11:47:49 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
As a side note, here's a question for any aero engineers: since most of the lift on a wing comes at the tip and the center, aside from stress factors, why are wings always tapered from the root to the tip, so that the surface that does the most lifting is the smallest? Wouldn't it make more sense to have a broader surface near the tip ... in other words, to have the narrowest part of the wing nearest the fuselage and the widest part as far outboard as possible?
Or am I completely off base?
And an outside loop.
Flew a Continental into a WV. Airport once. Don’t recall the airport, but they shaved off the top of a mountain and put a strip on it. Anyway, the pilot had to be Navy, the way he flew through the mountains in weather and then stuck the landing.
I truly enjoy professionals doin it right.
Looked like a modern version of the old Dakota. Graceful and easy to fly.
I don’t think the width of the wing plays that big a factor. Thickness and shape are more important. Carbon fiber was a game changer.
And thickness plays a role, but not as much as you'd think, because the root of the wing is usually much thicker than the tip, but the tip provides far more lift.
The wings look oddly bird-like to me.
I double-dog dare ‘em
The tapered wingtip is the replacement for winglets found on many aircraft. The flat end wing produces more drag, and tip vortices than a winglet, or tapered wing. The tapered wing provides more lift, and less drag than the others...read fuel efficiency.
Roger out.
RIP Tex
If He was still with us there is NO WAY Boeing would let Him get in the Cockpit;)
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