Question

You are designing an aircraft to fly slowly at high altitude, so you want to minimize induced drag. Which of the following statements best describes the likely shape of the wing you will design?

	A.	The best wing for this mission will be short and stubby, like the wing on an F-104
	B.	The best wing for this mission will be a delta wing, like the wing on an F-106
	C.	The best wing for this mission will have a very high aspect ratio, like the wing on the U-2
	D.	The aspect ratio of the wing does not matter, since it has no effect on induced drag

Answer 1

Designing an aircraft to fly slowly at high altitude and want to minimize induced drag :-

Induced Drag caused by generation of lift.It is created by the vortices at the tip of an aircraft's wing. Induced drag depends on shape and size of the wing and the amount of lift being generated by the wing.

Induced Drag is minimize by following ways =

1. Maintaing long and Thin chord wings.

2. Maintain High Aspect Ratio.

Aspect Ratio = Wing span / wing surface area.

Delta Wing = larger wing surface area of traingular shape with higher wing span so having high Aspect Ratio.

Statement A = Short and stubby ( Thick ) wings causes increasing Induced Drag. = Incorrect.

Statement B = Delta wing having High Aspect Ratio which minimize Induced Drag. = Correct.

Staement C = Wing having High Aspect Ratio which minimize Induced Drag = Correct.

Statement D = Aspect Ratio affecting Induced Drag. High Aspect ratio minimize Induced Drag. = Incorrect.