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Article
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Airplane wing design
Article By:
Mason, William H. Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Last reviewed:2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB100106
The design of the airplane wing is fundamental to efficient flight. The choice of the wing shape for a particular airplane is dictated by the application, the plane's speed (subsonic or supersonic), and whether it is a transport or a fighter. Recent interest in drones (customarily termed unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs) has led to unusual wing shapes. The next important requirement is the takeoff and landing distance. In the case of military aircraft, the maneuver and acceleration requirements also influence the design.
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