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But other considerations such as light weight, structural stiffness, manoeuvrability, ground handling and so on often benefit from a shorter span and, consequently a less efficient wing. Small, low-altitude general aviation planes typically have aspect ratios of six or seven; airliners of 12 or more;
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Although high speeds are usually desirable in an aircraft, supersonic flight requires much bigger engines, higher fuel consumption and more advanced materials than subsonic flight. A subsonic type therefore costs far less than the equivalent supersonic design, has greater range and causes less harm
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The ratio of tip chord to root chord is called the taper ratio. Taper has the desirable effect of reducing the root bending stress by shifting the lift inboard, but it has been argued by some noted designers, including John Thorp and Karl Bergey, that an untapered rectangular planform is best for
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In theory, induced drag is at its minimum when the span wise distribution of lift is elliptical. A number of factors influence induced drag, however, and as a practical matter a wing of elliptical planform, like that of the
Supermarine Spitfire fighter of World War II, is not necessarily the most
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changes due to motion through the air cause the air to flow away from areas of high dynamic pressure to areas of lower dynamic pressure, leaving the
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efficient. The wings of jet airliners, which are highly optimized for efficiency, are far from elliptical in shape.
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being the most efficient. A higher aspect ratio gives a higher lift/drag ratio and so is more efficient.
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of the surrounding air constant. At high subsonic speeds, compressibility effects begin to appear.
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is one of the most efficient sources of thrust available and is common on subsonic aeroplanes and
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The less harsh subsonic environment also allows a much wider range of aircraft types, such as
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Subsonic flight is characterised aerodynamically by incompressible flow, where
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At speeds above the critical Mach number, the airflow begins to become
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1). The term technically describes an aircraft that flies below its
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Aircraft with a maximum speed less than the speed of sound
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The aerodynamic efficiency of a wing is described by its
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are inefficient at subsonic speeds and not often used.
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built in 1945 shows off its straight elliptical wing
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