Questions tagged [wing]

For questions on an airplane's main wing

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Is the visual artifact seen over the wing from different air densities, a reflection or something else?

I have noticed a strange visual artifact over the wing of a Boeing yesterday. You can see two manifestations of the artifact in the pictures below. The first shows it at the front edge of the wing. There were actually many of those, but I only…
Lukas_Skywalker
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Can any aircraft adjust the wing dihedral in flight?

Are there any aircraft that can mechanically modify the dihedral angle of the wings whilst in flight? Would this solution give any advantage?
Fabrizio Mazzoni
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How would an Inverted Delta Wing planform behave, Straight part forward? Are there wings shaped this way?

There is info about straight edge wings, swept back wings, swept forward wings, delta wings. Is there also info about a Delta wing with a straight leading edge and a tapered trailing edge, the point rearwards, like a manta ray?
Urquiola
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What are these ribbons on the wing of an MD-83?

What are these triangles and ribbons on this MD83's wing, and what do they do?
Sepehr M
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What advantages come with the wing on the Boeing Bird of Prey?

I noticed this picture yesterday of the Bird of Prey and wondered about the wing design and what advantages would come with this unique wing design compared to other aircraft? Source:(www.wired.com)
Ethan
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Why did the CL-400 Suntan have engines on the ends of its wings?

I've been reading more about the development of the A-12, which in turn referenced the CL-400 Suntan. I noticed that the engines are located at the end of the wing, rather than integrated with the fuselage or on the midpoint, which is not something…
Peter
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Why do delta-wings perform so well on paper airplanes?

Based on this question, it seems that delta-shaped wings do not perform well at low airspeeds. But why do paper airplanes, particularly the most well known one, fly well even though the airspeed they fly in is at most 15 knots on average?
SMS von der Tann
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Are there any aircraft where the wings are swept forward of the cockpit?

Are there any aircraft where the wings are swept forward to form a C shape ahead of the cockpit? Something like this: -- -- // \\ || /\ || || || || \\_||_// \____/ I want to do a research on that kind of aircraft and there are many…
ll55
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What are the differences between wings made for 2 engines and wings for 4 engines?

I have always wondered the differences between a wing made to hold 2 engines and a wing made to hold 4 engines, could someone please explain?
L.Halfpenny
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Why do many commercial aircraft have a red circle on the wing?

Many commercial aircraft operated by japanese airlines like JAL and ANA have a red circle on the wing. Look: Source: Airliners.net And on this ANA plane, also: Source: Airliners.net Why do they have that red circle there?
user13197
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What is the need for twist along a wing?

Why should a wing even have a twist towards its outermost chord? How did that even come about? Why can't it be straight and aligned as it usually is?
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What is a lambda wing?

I was reading a description of the Boeing X-45 that described it as having "lambda wings." What is a lambda wing and why is it called that?
TomMcW
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How should I build removable wings on a home build?

In the future I would like to build a home built aircraft from scratch, but I would like the aircraft to be able to be hauled by trailer. I would like the wings to be removable but don’t have a definitive answer on how to go about building the wings…
Logan Bell
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What is this thing sticking out in front of wings?

I was wondering what this little stick on the wing was. My best guesses are an antenna or some sort of air speed measuring tube?
Jannes D.
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How does the vertical height of the wings on a plane affect flight relative to its position? E.g., how does a higher high wing affect flight?

I think I understand how a high wing differentiates from a mid wing or a low wing; what I am asking is how, for instance, a very high high-wing makes itself unique in flight from a very low high-wing. So let's say you have a high-wing aircraft.…
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