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Wingconfiguration
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Fixedwingaircraft,popularlycalledaeroplanes,airplanes,orjustplanes,maybe
builtwithmanywingconfigurations.

Thispageprovidesabreakdownoftypes,allowingafulldescriptionofany
aircraft'swingconfiguration.Forexample,theSupermarineSpitfirewingmaybe
classifiedasaconventionallowwingcantilevermonoplanewithstraightelliptical
wingsofmoderateaspectratioandslightdihedral.

Sometimesthedistinctionbetweentypesisblurred,forexamplethewingsofmany
moderncombataircraftmaybedescribedeitherascroppedcompounddeltaswith
(forwardsorbackwards)swepttrailingedge,orassharplytaperedsweptwings
withlargeleadingedgerootextensions(orLERX).

Alltheconfigurationsdescribedhaveflown(ifonlyverybriefly)onfullsize
aircraft,exceptasnoted.

Somevariantsmaybeduplicatedundermorethanoneheading,duetotheir
complexnature.Thisisparticularlysoforvariablegeometryandcombined
(closed)wingtypes. TheSpitfirewingmaybeclassifiedas:"a
conventionallowwingcantilever
Noteonterminology:Mostfixedwingaircrafthavelefthandandrighthandwings monoplanewithunsweptellipticalwings
inasymmetricalarrangement.Strictly,suchapairofwingsiscalledawingplane ofmoderateaspectratioandslight
orjustplane.However,incertainsituationsitiscommontorefertoaplaneasa dihedral".
wing,asin"abiplanehastwowings",ortorefertothewholethingasawing,asin
"abiplanewinghastwoplanes".Wherethemeaningisclear,thisarticlefollows
commonusage,onlybeingmoreprecisewhereneededtoavoidrealambiguityorincorrectness.

Contents
1 Numberandpositionofmainplanes
2 Wingsupport
3 Wingplanform
3.1 Aspectratio
3.2 Chordvariationalongspan
3.3 Wingsweep
3.4 Sweepvariationalongspan
3.5 Asymmetrical
4 Tailplanesandforeplanes
5 Dihedralandanhedral
6 Wingsvs.bodies
7 Variablegeometry
7.1 Variableplanform
7.2 Variablechord
7.3 Polymorphism
8 Minorindependentsurfaces
9 Additionalminorfeatures
9.1 Highlift
9.2 Spanwiseflowcontrol
9.3 Vortexcreation
9.4 Dragreduction
10 Notes
11 References
12 Seealso
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13 Externallinks

Numberandpositionofmainplanes
Fixedwingaircraftcanhavedifferentnumbersofwings:

Monoplane:onewingplane.Sincethe1930smostaeroplaneshavebeenmonoplanes.Thewingmaybemountedat
variouspositionsrelativetothefuselage:
Lowwing:mountednearorbelowthebottomofthefuselage.
Midwing:mountedapproximatelyhalfwayupthefuselage.
Shoulderwing:mountedontheupperpartor"shoulder"ofthefuselage,slightlybelowthetopofthefuselage.A
shoulderwingissometimesconsideredasubtypeofhighwing.[1][2]
Highwing:mountedontheupperfuselage.Whencontrastedtotheshoulderwing,appliestoawingmountedona
projection(suchasthecabinroof)abovethetopofthemainfuselage.
Parasolwing:raisedclearabovethetopofthefuselage,typicallybycabanestruts,pylon(s)orpedestal(s).

Lowwing Midwing Shoulderwing

Highwing Parasolwing

Afixedwingaircraftmayhavemorethanonewingplane,stackedoneaboveanother:

Biplane:twowingplanesofsimilarsize,stackedoneabovetheother.Themostcommonconfigurationuntilthe1930s,
whenthemonoplanetookover.TheWrightFlyerIwasabiplane.
Unequalspanbiplane:abiplaneinwhichonewing(usuallythelower)isshorterthantheother,asontheCurtiss
JN4JennyoftheFirstWorldWar.
Sesquiplane:literally"oneandahalfplanes"isatypeofbiplaneinwhichthelowerwingissignificantlysmaller
thantheupperwing,eitherinspanorchordorboth.TheNieuport17ofWorldWarIwasnotablysuccessful.
Invertedsesquiplane:hasasignificantlysmallerupperwing.TheFiatCR.1wasinproductionformanyyears.

Biplane Unequalspanbiplane Sesquiplane Invertedsesquiplane

Triplane:threeplanesstackedoneaboveanother.TriplanessuchastheFokkerDr.Ienjoyedabriefperiodofpopularity
duringtheFirstWorldWarduetotheirmanoeuvrability,butweresoonreplacedbyimprovedbiplanes.
Quadruplane:fourplanesstackedoneaboveanother.AsmallnumberoftheArmstrongWhitworthF.K.10werebuiltin
theFirstWorldWarbutneversawservice.
Multiplane:manyplanes,sometimesusedtomeanmorethanoneormorethansomearbitrarynumber.Thetermis
occasionallyappliedtoarrangementsstackedintandemaswellasvertically.The1907MultiplaneofHoratioFrederick
Phillipsflewsuccessfullywithtwohundredwingfoils,whiletheninewingCaproniCa.60flyingboatwasairborne
brieflybeforecrashing.

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Triplane Quadruplane Multiplane

Astaggereddesignhastheupperwingslightlyforwardofthelower.Longthoughttoreducetheinterferencecausedbythe
lowpressureairoverthelowerwingmixingwiththehighpressureairundertheupperwinghowevertheimprovementis
minimalanditsprimarybenefitistoimproveaccesstothefuselage.Itiscommononmanysuccessfulbiplanesandtriplanes.
BackwardsstaggerisalsoseeninafewexamplessuchastheBeechcraftStaggerwing.

Unstaggeredbiplane Forwardsstagger Backwardsstagger

Atandemwingdesignhastwowings,onebehindtheother:seeTailplanesandforeplanesbelow.Someearlytypeshad
tandemstacksofmultipleplanesseethearticleonmultiplanes.

Wingsupport
Tosupportitselfawinghastoberigidandstrongandconsequentlymaybeheavy.Byaddingexternalbracing,theweightcan
begreatlyreduced.Originallysuchbracingwasalwayspresent,butitcausesalargeamountofdragathigherspeedsandhas
notbeenusedforfasterdesignssincetheearly1930s.

Thetypesare:

Cantilevered:selfsupporting.Allthestructureisburiedundertheaerodynamicskin,givingacleanappearancewith
lowdrag.
Braced:thewingsaresupportedbyexternalstructuralmembers.Nearlyallmultiplanedesignsarebraced.Some
monoplanes,especiallyearlydesignssuchastheFokkerEindecker,arealsobracedtosaveweight.Bracedwingsareof
twotypes:
Strutbraced:oneormorestiffstrutshelptosupportthewing.Astrutmayactincompressionortensionat
differentpointsintheflightregime.
Wirebraced:alone(asontheBoeingP26Peashooter)or,moreusually,inadditiontostruts,tensionwiresalso
helptosupportthewing.Unlikeastrut,awirecanactonlyintension.

Cantilever Strutbraced Wirebraced

Abracedmultiplanemayhaveoneormore"bays",whicharethecompartmentscreatedbyaddinginterplanestrutsthe
numberofbaysreferstoonesideoftheaircraft'swingpanelsonly.Forexample,thedeHavillandTigerMothisasingle
baybiplanewheretheBristolF.2Fighterisatwobaybiplane.[3]

Singlebaybiplane Twobaybiplane

Closedwing:twowingplanesaremergedorjoinedstructurallyatornearthetipsinsomeway.[4]Thisstiffensthe
structureandcanreduceaerodynamiclossesatthetips.Variantsinclude:

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Boxwing:upperandlowerplanesarejoinedbyaverticalfinbetweentheirtips.Thefirstofficiallywitnessed
unaidedtakeoffandflight,SantosDumonts14bis,usedthisconfigurationandsomeDunnebiplaneswereofthis
typeaswell.Tandemboxwingshavealsobeenstudied(seeJoinedwingdescriptionbelow).
Annularboxwing:Atypeofboxwingwhoseverticalfinscurvecontinuously,blendingsmoothlyintothewing
tips.AnearlyexamplewastheBlriotIII,whichfeaturedtwoannularwingsintandem.
Annular(cylindrical):thewingisshapedlikeacylinder.TheColoptrehadconcentricwingandfuselage.It
tookoffandlandedvertically,butneverachievedtransitiontohorizontalflight.Exampleswiththewingmounted
ontopofthefuselagehavebeenproposedbutneverbuilt.[5]
Annular(planar):thewingisshapedlikeadiscwithaholeinit.AnumberofLeeRichardsannularmonoplanes
flewshortlybeforetheFirstWorldWar.[6]
Joinedwing:atandemlayoutinwhichthefrontlowwingsweepsbackand/ortherearhighwingsweepsforwards
suchthattheyjoinatornearthetipstoformacontinuoussurfaceinahollowdiamondortriangleshape.The
LigetiStratosisarareexample.[7]
Rhomboidalwing:ajoinedwingconsistingoffoursurfacesinadiamondarrangement.TheEdwards
Rhomboidalbiplaneof1911hadbothwingsinthesameplaneandfailedtofly.[8]

Boxwing Annularboxwing Cylindricalwing Joinedwing

Flatannularwing Rhomboidalwing

Wingscanalsobecharacterisedas:

Rigid:stiffenoughtomaintaintheaerofoilprofileinvaryingconditionsofairflow.Arigidwingmayhaveexternal
bracingand/orafabriccovering.
Flexible:
Thesurfacemaybeflexible,typicallyathinmembrane.Requiresexternalbracingand/orwindpressureto
maintaintheaerofoilshape.CommontypesincludeRogallowingsandkites.
Anotherwiserigidstructuremaybedesignedtoflex,eitherbecauseitisinherentlyaeroelasticasinthe
aeroisoclinicwing,orbecauseshapechangesareactivelyintroduced.

Rigiddeltawing FlexibleRogallowing

Wingplanform
Thewingplanformisthesilhouetteofthewingwhenviewedfromaboveorbelow.

SeealsoVariablegeometrytypeswhichvarythewingplanformduringflight.

Aspectratio
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Theaspectratioisthespandividedbythemeanoraveragechord.[9]Itisameasureofhowlongandslenderthewingappears
whenseenfromaboveorbelow.

Lowaspectratio:shortandstubbywing.Moreefficientstructurallyandhigherinstantaneousrollrate.Theytendtobe
usedbyfighteraircraft,suchastheLockheedF104Starfighter,andbyveryhighspeedaircraft(e.g.NorthAmericanX
15).
Moderateaspectratio:generalpurposewing(e.g.theLockheedP80ShootingStar).
Highaspectratio:longandslenderwing.Moreefficientaerodynamically,havinglessinduceddrag.Theytendtobe
usedbyhighaltitudesubsonicaircraft(e.g.theLockheedU2),subsonicairliners(e.g.theBombardierDash8)andby
highperformancesailplanes(e.g.GlaserDirksDG500).

Lowaspectratio Moderateaspectratio Highaspectratio

MostVariablegeometryconfigurationsvarytheaspectratioinsomeway,eitherdeliberatelyorasasideeffect.

Chordvariationalongspan

Thewingchordmaybevariedalongthespanofthewing,forbothstructuralandaerodynamicreasons.

Constantchord:parallelleading&trailingedges.Simplesttomake,andcommonwherelowcostisimportant,e.g.in
thePiperJ3Cubbutinefficientastheoutersectiongenerateslittleliftwhileaddingbothweightanddrag.Sometimes
knownastheHersheyBarwinginNorthAmericaduetoitssimilarityinshapetoachocolatebar.[10][11]
Tapered:wingnarrowstowardsthetip.Structurallyandaerodynamicallymoreefficientthanaconstantchordwing,and
easiertomakethantheellipticaltype.
Trapezoidal:ataperedwingwithstraightleadingandtrailingedges:maybeunsweptorswept.[12][13][14]The
straighttaperedwingisoneofthemostcommonwingplanforms,asseenontheGrummanF4FWildcat.
Inversetapered:wingiswidestnearthetip.Structurallyinefficient,leadingtohighweight.Flownexperimentally
ontheXF91Thunderceptorinanattempttoovercomethestallproblemsofsweptwings.
Compoundtapered:taperreversestowardstheroot.Typicallybracedtomaintainstiffness.UsedontheWestland
Lysanderarmycooperationaircrafttoincreasevisibilityforthecrew.
Constantchordwithtaperedoutersection:commonvariantseenforexampleonmanyCessnatypesandtheEnglish
ElectricCanberra.

Constantchord,
Constantchord Tapered(Trapezoidal) Reversetapered Compoundtapered
taperedouter

Elliptical:leadingandtrailingedgesarecurvedsuchthatthechordlengthvariesellipticallywithrespecttospan.
Theoreticallythemostefficient,butdifficulttomake.FamouslyusedontheSupermarineSpitfire.(Notethatin
aerodynamicstheory,theterm"elliptical"describestheoptimalliftdistributionoverawingandnottheshape).
Semielliptical:onlytheleadingortrailingedgeisellipticalwiththeotherbeingstraight,aswiththeelliptical
trailingedgesoftheSeverskyP35.[15]

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Birdwing:acurvedshapeappearingsimilartoabird'soutstretchedwing.Popularduringthepioneeryears,and
achievedsomesuccessontheEtrichTaubewhereitsplanformwasinspiredbythezanonia(Alsomitramacrocarpa)
seed. Elliptical Semielliptical
Batwing:aformwithradialribs.The1901WhiteheadNo.21hasbeenthesubjectofclaimstothefirstcontrolled
poweredflight.
Circular:approximatelycircularplanform.TheVoughtXF5UusedlargepropellersnearthetipswhichVoughtclaimed
dissipateditswingtipvorticesandhadanintegraltailplaneforstability.
Flyingsaucer:circularflyingwing.Inherentlyunstable,andneithertheAvrocarnortheMollerM200GVolantor
wereabletoescapegroundeffect.
Discwing:avariantinwhichtheentirediscrotates.[16]PopularontoyssuchastheFrisbee.
Flatannularwing:thecirclehasaholein,formingaclosedwing(seeabove).TheLeeRichardsannular
monoplaneflewshortlybeforetheFirstWorldWar.[17]

Birdlike Batlike Circular Flyingsaucer Flatannular

Delta:triangularplanformwithsweptleadingedgeandstraighttrailingedge.Offerstheadvantagesofasweptwing,
withgoodstructuralefficiencyandlowfrontalarea.Disadvantagesarethelowwingloadingandhighwettedarea
neededtoobtainaerodynamicstability.Variantsare:
Taillessdelta:aclassichighspeeddesign,usedforexampleintheDassaultMirageIIIseries.
Taileddelta:addsaconventionaltailplane,toimprovehandling.UsedontheMikoyanGurevichMiG21.
Croppeddelta:wingtipsarecutoff.Thishelpsavoidtipdragathighanglesofattack.Attheextreme,merges
intothe"taperedswept"configuration.
Compounddeltaordoubledelta:innersectionhasa(usually)steeperleadingedgesweepe.g.SaabDraken.This
improvestheliftathighanglesofattackanddelaysorpreventsstalling.SeenintaillessformontheTupolevTu
144andtheSpaceShuttle.TheHALTejashasaninnersectionofreducedsweep.
Ogivaldelta:asmoothlyblended"wineglass"doublecurveencompassingtheleadingedgesandtipofacropped
compounddelta.SeenintaillessformontheConcordesupersonictransports.

Taillessdelta Taileddelta Croppeddelta Compounddelta Ogivaldelta

Wingsweep

Wingsmaybesweptback,oroccasionallyforwards,foravarietyofreasons.Asmalldegreeofsweepissometimesusedto
adjustthecentreofliftwhenthewingcannotbeattachedintheidealpositionforsomereason,suchasapilot'svisibilityfrom
thecockpit.Otherusesaredescribedbelow.

Straight:extendsatrightanglestothelineofflight.Themoststructurallyefficientwing,itiscommonforlowspeed
designs,suchastheP80ShootingStarandsailplanes.
Sweptback(aka"sweptwing"):Thewingsweepsrearwardsfromtheroottothetip.Inearlytaillessexamples,suchas
theDunneaircraft,thisallowedtheouterwingsectiontoactlikeaconventionalempennage(tail)toprovide
aerodynamicstability.Attransonicspeedssweptwingshavelowerdrag,butcanhandlebadlyinornearastalland

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requirehighstiffnesstoavoidaeroelasticityathighspeeds.Commononhighsubsonicandearlysupersonicdesignse.g.
theHawkerHunter.
Forwardswept:thewinganglesforwardfromtheroot.Benefitsaresimilartobackwardssweep,alsoitavoidsthestall
problemsandhasreducedtiplossesallowingasmallerwing,butrequiresevengreaterstiffnesstoavoidaeroelastic
flutterasontheSukhoiSu47.TheHFB320HansaJetusedforwardsweeptopreventthewingsparpassingthroughthe
cabin.SmallshoulderwingaircraftmayuseforwardsweeptomaintainacorrectCoG.

Sometypesofvariablegeometryvarythewingsweepduringflight:

Swingwing:alsocalled"variablesweepwing".Theleftandrighthandwingsvarytheirsweeptogether,usually
backwards.Seeninafewtypesofmilitaryaircraft,suchastheGeneralDynamicsF111Aardvark.
Obliquewing:asinglefullspanwingpivotsaboutitsmidpoint,sothatonesidesweepsbackandtheothersidesweeps
forward.FlownontheNASAAD1researchaircraft.

Straight Swept Forwardswept Variablesweep Variablegeometry

(swingwing) obliquewing

Sweepvariationalongspan

Theangleofasweptwingmayalsobevaried,orcranked,alongthespan:

Crescent:wingoutersectionissweptlesssharplythantheinnersection,toobtainabestcompromisebetweentransonic
shockdelayandspanwiseflowcontrol.UsedontheHandleyPageVictor.[18]
Crankedarrow:aerodynamicallyidenticaltothecompounddelta,butwiththetrailingedgealsokinkedinwards.
TrialledexperimentallyontheGeneralDynamicsF16XL.
Mwing:theinnerwingsectionsweepsforward,andtheoutersectionsweepsbackwards.Allowsthewingtobehighly
sweptwhileminimisingtheundesirableeffectsofaeroelasticbending.Periodicallystudied,butneverusedonan
aircraft.[19][20][21]
Wwing:AreversedMwing.ProposedfortheBlohm&VossP.188butstudiedevenlessthantheMwingandinthe
endneverused.[19][21]

Crescent Crankedarrow Mwing Wwing

Asymmetrical

Onafewasymmetricalaircrafttheleftandrightwingsarenotmirrorimagesofeachother:

Asymmetricalloading:theBlohm&VossBV141hadanacelleoffsettoonesidetogivethecrewagoodfieldofview.
Asymmetricalplanform:onseveralItalianfighterssuchastheAnsaldoSVA,onewingwasslightlylongerthanthe
othertoassistincounteractingenginetorque.
Obliquewing:onewingsweepsforwardandtheotherback.TheNASAAD1hadafullspanwingstructurewith
variablesweep.

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Asymmetrical Torquecounteraction Variablegeometry

byasymmetricspan obliquewing

Tailplanesandforeplanes
Theclassicaerofoilsectionwingisunstableinpitch,andrequiressomeformofhorizontalstabilizingsurface.Alsoitcannot
provideanysignificantpitchcontrol,requiringaseparatecontrolsurface(elevator)mountedelsewhere.

Conventional:"tailplane"surfaceattherearoftheaircraft,formingpartofthetailorempennage.
Canard:"foreplane"surfaceatthefrontoftheaircraft.Commoninthepioneeryears,butfromtheoutbreakofWorld
WarInoproductionmodelappeareduntiltheSaabViggenappearedin1967.
Tandem:twomainwings,onebehindtheother.Bothprovidelifttheaftwingprovidespitchstability(asausual
tailplane).AnexampleistheRutanQuickie.Toprovidelongitudinalstability,thewingsmustdifferinaerodynamic
characteristics:wingloadingandaerofoilsmustbedifferentbetweenthetwowings.
Threesurface:[22]bothconventionaltailandcanardauxiliarysurfaces.ModernexamplesincludetheSukhoiSu33and
PiaggioP.180Avanti.PioneerexamplesincludedtheVoisinFarmanIandCurtissNo.1.
Tailless:noseparatesurface,atfrontorrear.Theliftingandstabilizingsurfacesmaybecombinedinasingleplane,as
ontheShortSB.4Sherpawhosewholewingtipsectionsactedaselevons.Alternativelytheaerofoilprofilemaybe
modifiedtoprovideinherentstability.Aircrafthavingatailplanebutnoverticaltailfinhavealsobeendescribedas
"tailless".

Conventional Canard Tandem Threesurface Tailless

Dihedralandanhedral
Anglingthewingsupordownspanwisefromroottotipcanhelptoresolvevariousdesignissues,suchasstabilityandcontrol
inflight.

Dihedral:thetipsarehigherthantherootasontheBoeing737,givingashallow'V'shapewhenseenfromthefront.
Addslateralstability.
Anhedral:thetipsarelowerthantheroot,asontheIlyushinIl76theoppositeofdihedral.Usedtoreducestability
wheresomeotherfeatureresultsintoomuchstability.

Somebiplaneshavedifferentdegreesofdihedral/anhedralondifferentwingse.g.theSopwithCamelhadaflatupperwing
anddihedralonthelowerwing,whiletheHanriotHD1haddihedralontheupperwingbutnoneonthelower.

Dihedral Anhedral Biplanewithdihedral Biplanewithdihedral

onbothwings onlowerwing

Inapolyhedralwingthedihedralanglevariesalongthespan.

Gullwing:sharpdihedralonthewingrootsection,littleornoneonthemainsection,asonthePZLP.11fighter.
Sometimesusedtoimprovevisibilityforwardsandupwardsandmaybeusedastheupperwingonabiplaneasonthe
PolikarpovI153.
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InvertedgullorCranked:anhedralontherootsection,dihedralonthemainsection.Theoppositeofagullwing.May
beusedtoreducethelengthofwingmountedundercarriagelegswhileallowingaraisedfuselage,asontheGerman
JunkersJu87Stukadivebomber.(Notethatthedescription"cranked"variesinusage.[23][24][25][26]SeealsoCranked
arrowplanform.)
Crankedtip:tipsectiondihedraldiffersfromthemainwing.ThetipsmaycrankupwardsasontheF4PhantomIIor
downwardsasontheNorthropXP56BlackBullet.

Gullwing Invertedgullwing Upwardcrankedtips Downwardcrankedtips

Thechannelwingincludesasectionofthewingformingapartialductaroundorimmediatelybehindapropeller.Flown
since1942inprototypeformonly,mostnotablyontheCusterChannelWingaircraft.

Channelwing

Wingsvs.bodies
Somedesignshavenoclearjoinbetweenwingandfuselage,orbody.Thismaybebecauseoneorotheroftheseismissing,or
becausetheymergeintoeachother:

Flyingwing:theaircrafthasnodistinctfuselageorhorizontaltail(althoughfinsandpods,blisters,etc.maybepresent)
suchasontheB2stealthbomber.
Blendedbodyorblendedwingbody:asmoothtransitionoccursbetweenwingandfuselage,withnoharddividing
line.Reduceswettedareaandcanalsoreduceinterferencebetweenairflowoverthewingrootandanyadjacentbody,in
bothcasesreducingdrag.TheLockheedSR71spyplaneexemplifiesthisapproach.
Liftingbody:theaircraftlacksidentifiablewingsbutreliesonthefuselage(usuallyathighspeedsorhighanglesof
attack)toprovideaerodynamicliftasontheX24.

Flyingwing Blendedbody Liftingbody

Somedesignsmayfallintomultiplecategoriesdependingoninterpretation,forexamplethesamedesigncouldbeseeneither
asaliftingbodywithabroadfuselage,orasalowaspectratioflyingwingwithadeepcenterchord.

Variablegeometry
Avariablegeometryaircraftisabletochangeitsphysicalconfigurationduringflight.

Sometypesofvariablegeometrycrafttransitionbetweenfixedwingandrotarywingconfigurations.Formoreaboutthese
hybrids,seepoweredlift.

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Variableplanform

VariablesweepwingorSwingwing.Theleftandrighthandwingsvarytheirsweeptogether,usuallybackwards.The
firstsuccessfulwingsweepinflightwascarriedoutbytheBellX5intheearly1950s.IntheBeechStarship,onlythe
canardforeplaneshavevariablesweep.
Obliquewing:asinglefullspanwingpivotsaboutitsmidpoint,asusedontheNASAAD1,sothatonesidesweeps
backandtheothersidesweepsforward.
Telescopingwing:theoutersectionofwingtelescopesoverorwithintheinnersectionofwing,varyingspan,aspect
ratioandwingarea,asusedontheFS29TFglider.[27]TheMakhonineMak123wasanearlyexample.[28]
Detachablewing.TheWS110Astudyproposedalongwingforefficientsubsoniccruise,whichthenejectstheouter
panelstoleaveashortspanwingforashortsupersonic"dash"toitstargets.SeeSlipwing.
Extendingwingorexpandingwing:partofthewingretractsintothemainaircraftstructuretoreducedragandlow
altitudebuffetforhighspeedflight,andisextendedonlyfortakeoff,lowspeedcruiseandlanding.TheGrinVarivol
biplane,whichflewin1936,extendedtheleadingandtrailingedgestoincreasewingarea.[29]

Variablegeometry
Variablesweep obliquewing Telescopingwing Extendingwing
(swingwing)

Foldingwing:partofthewingextendsfortakeoffandlanding,andfoldsawayforhighspeedflight.Theoutersections
oftheXB70Valkyriewingfoldeddownduringsupersoniccruise.(Manyaircrafthavewingsthatmaybefoldedfor
storageonthegroundoronboardship.Thesearenotfoldingwingsinthesenseusedhere).

Foldingwing

Variablechord

Variableincidence:thewingplanecantiltupwardsordownwardsrelativetothefuselage.ThewingontheVoughtF8
Crusaderwasrotated,liftingtheleadingedgeontakeofftoimproveperformance.Ifpoweredproprotorsarefittedtothe
wingtoallowverticaltakeofforSTOVLperformance,mergesintothepoweredliftcategory.
Variablecamber:theleadingand/ortrailingedgesectionsofthewholewingpivottoincreasetheeffectivecamberand
sometimesalsoareaofthewing.Thisenhancesmanoeuvrability.AnearlyexamplewasflownontheWestlandN.16of
1917.[30]
Variablethickness:theupperwingcentresectioncanberaisedtoincreasewingthicknessandcamberforlandingand
takeoff,andreducedforhighspeed.CharlesRochevilleandothersflewsomeexperimentalaircraft.[31][32][33]

Variableincidence Variablecamber Variablethickness

wing aerofoil aerofoil

Polymorphism

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Apolymorphicwingisabletochangethenumberofplanesinflight.TheNikitinShevchenkoIS"foldingfighter"prototypes
wereabletomorphbetweenbiplaneandmonoplaneconfigurationsaftertakeoffbyfoldingthelowerwingintoacavityinthe
upperwing.

Theslipwingisavariationonthepolymorphicidea,wherebyalowwingmonoplanewasfittedwithaseconddetachable
"slip"wingaboveittoassisttakeoff,whichwasthenjettisonedoncealoft.TheideawasflownonthepurposebuiltHillsonBi
monobeforebeingappliedtoasingleHawkerHurricanehoweveritwasnotcontinuedwith.

Polymorphicwing Slipwing

Minorindependentsurfaces
Aircraftmayhaveadditionalminoraerodynamicsurfaces.Someoftheseare
treatedaspartoftheoverallwingconfiguration:

Winglet:asmallverticalfinatthewingtip,usuallyturnedupwards.Reduces
thesizeofvorticesshedbythewingtip,andhencealsotipdrag.
Strake:asmallsurface,typicallylongerthanitiswideandmountedonthe
fuselage.Strakesmaybelocatedatvariouspositionsinordertoimprove
aerodynamicbehaviour.Leadingedgerootextensions(LERX)arealso
sometimesreferredtoaswingstrakes.
Chine:long,narrowsidewaysextensiontothefuselage,blendingintothe
mainwing.Aswellasimprovinglowspeed(highangleofattack)handling,
providesextraliftatsupersonicspeedsforminimalincreaseindrag.Seenon Differentkindsofstrake
theLockheedSR71Blackbird.
Moustache:smallhighaspectratiocanardsurfacehavingnomovablecontrolsurface.Typicallyisretractableforhigh
speedflight.Deflectsairdownwardontothewingroot,todelaythestall.SeenontheDassaultMilanandTupolevTu
144.

Additionalminorfeatures
Additionalminorfeaturesmaybeappliedtoanexistingaerodynamicsurfacesuchasthemainwing:

Highlift

Highliftdevicesmaintainliftatlowspeedsanddelaythestalltoallowslowertakeoff
andlandingspeeds:

Slatandslot:ALeadingedgeslatisasmallaerofoilextendinginfrontofthe
mainleadingedge.Thespanwisegapbehinditformsaleadingedgeslot.Air
flowingupthroughtheslotisdeflectedbackwardsbytheslattoflowoverthe
wing,allowingtheaircrafttoflyatlowerairspeedswithoutflowseparationor
stalling.Aslatmaybefixedorretractable. Highliftdevices
Flap:ahingedaerodynamicsurface,usuallyonthetrailingedge,whichisrotated
downwardstogenerateextraliftanddrag.Typesincludeplain,slotted,andsplit.
Some,suchasFowlerFlaps,alsoextendrearwardstoincreasewingarea.TheKruegerflapisaleadingedgedevice.
Cuff:modifiestheaerofoilsection,typicallytoimprovelowspeedcharacteristics.

Spanwiseflowcontrol

Onasweptwing,airtendstoflowsidewaysaswellasbackwardsandreducingthiscanimprovetheefficiencyofthewing:
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2/4/2017 WingconfigurationWikipedia

Wingfence:aflatplateextendingalongthewingchordandforashortdistance
vertically.Usedtocontrolspanwiseairflowoverthewing.
Dogtoothleadingedge:createsasharpdiscontinuityintheairflowoverthe
wing,disruptingspanwiseflow.[34]
Notchedleadingedge:actslikeadogtooth.[34]

Vortexcreation Spanwiseflowcontroldevice

Vortexdevicesmaintainairflowatlowspeedsanddelaythestall,bycreatingavortex
whichreenergisestheboundarylayerclosetothewing.

Vortexgenerator:smalltriangularprotrusionontheupperleadingwingsurface
usually,severalarespacedalongthespanofthewing.Vortexgeneratorscreate
additionaldragatallspeeds.
Vortilon:aflatplateattachedtotheundersideofthewingnearitsouterleading
edge,roughlyparalleltonormalairflow.Atlowspeeds,tipeffectscausealocal
spanwiseflowwhichisdeflectedbythevortilontoformavortexpassingupand Vortexdevices
overthewing.
Leadingedgerootextension(LERX):generatesastrongvortexoverthewingathighanglesofattack,butunlike
vortexgeneratorsitcanalsoincreaseliftatsuchhighangles,whilecreatingminimaldraginlevelflight.

Dragreduction

Antishockbody:astreamlinedpodshapeaddedtotheleadingortrailingedge
ofanaerodynamicsurface,todelaytheonsetofshockstallandreducetransonic
wavedrag.ExamplesincludetheKchemanncarrotsonthewingtrailingedgeof
theHandleyPageVictorB.2.
Fillet:asmallcurvedinfillatthejunctionoftwosurfaces,suchasawingand
fuselage,blendingthemsmoothlytogethertoreducedrag.
Fairingsofvariouskinds,suchasblisters,pylonsandwingtippods,containing
equipmentwhichcannotfitinsidethewing,andwhoseonlyaerodynamic Dragreductiondevices
purposeistoreducethedragcreatedbytheequipment.

Notes
1.Taylor,J.(Ed.),Jayne'salltheworld'saircraft198081,Jane's(1980)
2.Green,W.Warplanesofthesecondworldwar,Vol.5,Flyingboats,Macdonald(1962),p.131
3.Taylor,1990.p.76
4.Kroo,I.(2005),"NonplanarWingConceptsForIncreasedAircraftEfficiency",VKIlectureseriesonInnovativeConfigurationsand
AdvancedConceptsforFutureCivilAircraftJune610,2005
5."NonplanarWings:ClosedSystems".Aero.stanford.edu.Retrieved20120331.
6.Airliners.net,LeeRichardsAnnular,2012,retrieved31March2012
7.LigetiStratosjoinedwingaircraft(http://projetplaisir.free.fr/a02.html)
8.Angelucco,E.andMatrciardi,P.WorldAircraftOriginsWorldWar1,SampsonLow,1977
9.Kermode,A.C.,MechanicsofFlight,Chapter3(p.103,eighthedition)
10.Garrison,Peter(20030101)."RectangularWings|FlyingMagazine".Flyingmag.com.Retrieved20120331.
11.3viewofthePiperJ3Cub(http://www.toniclark.com/english/modelle/piper/piper3v.htm)
12.TomBensonWingArea(https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k12/VirtualAero/BottleRocket/airplane/area.html),NASA
13.IlanKrooAA241AircraftDesign:SynthesisandAnalysisWingGeometryDefinitions(http://adg.stanford.edu/aa241/wingdesign/wing
geometry.html),StanfordUniversity.
14.G.DimitriadisAircraftDesignLecture2:Aerodynamics(http://www.ltascm3.ulg.ac.be/AERO00231/ConceptionAeroAerodynamism
e.pdf),UniversitdeLige.
15."AlexanderdeSeversky".centennialofflight.net.Retrieved20120331.
16.Potts,J.R.Discwingaerodynamics(http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.569224),UniversityofManchester,2005.
17.letterfromHallWarren,N(http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20%202565.html).FlightInternational,1962,
p716.
18."sweptwing|avrovulcan|1953|0030|FlightArchive".Flightglobal.com.19521205.Retrieved20120529.
19.DiederichandFossStaticAeroelasticPhenomenaofM,Wandwings(http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc59566/m2/1/
high_res_d/19930087522.pdf),NACA1953.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_configuration 12/13
2/4/2017 WingconfigurationWikipedia
20."AerodynamicsatTeddington",Flight:764,5June1959
21.Katz,Marley,Pepper,NACARML50G31(PDF),NACA
22.P180AvantiSpecificationandDescription(http://www.smartcockpit.com/docs/P180_AvantiSpecification_and_Description.pdf).See
page55,AppendixA:"Notesaboutthe3LiftingSurfacedesign".
23.ErnstHeinrichHirschelHorstPremGeroMadelung.AeronauticalresearchinGermany:fromLilienthaluntiltoday.Retrieved
20120331.
24.Benoliel,AlexanderM.,AerodynamicPitchupofCrankedArrowWings:Estimation,Trim,andConfigurationDesign(http://www.ao
e.vt.edu/~mason/Mason_f/ABMSThes.pdf),VirginiaPolytechnicInstitute&StateUniversity,May1994,retrieved31March2012
25."BoeingSonicCruiserousts747X".Flightglobal.com.20010403.Retrieved20120331.
26."WHATISIT?AircraftCharacteristicsThatAidtheSpotterClassified:ASimpleGuideforBasicFeaturesinDesigntheBeginner",
Flight:562,4June1942
27."fs29"TF" ".Unistuttgart.de.20120205.Retrieved20120331.
28."TelescopingWingsOnPlaneAddToItsSpeed",November1931,PopularMechanics(https://books.google.com/books?id=tQDAAA
AMBAJ&pg=PA716&dq=Popular+Mechanics+1931+curtiss&hl=en&ei=WL7wTK7dHIygnQfPvO2yCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=re
sult&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Popular%20Mechanics%201931%20curtiss&f=true)
29."PlaneWithExpandingWing,FliesInTests"(https://books.google.com/books?id=qygDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32&dq=Popular+Scienc
e+1932+plane&hl=en&ei=1BEsTZjdIpHNngeQ18moDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&sqi=2&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAw
#v=onepage&q=Popular%20Science%201932%20plane&f=true)PopularScience,November1932,articlecenterofpage31
30.Lukins,A.H.ThebookofWestlandaircraft,Aircraft(Technical)PublicationsLtd,(1943or1944).
31."AdjustableAirplane'sWingsAreChangedInFlight",January1931,PopularMechanics(https://books.google.com/books?id=reMDA
AAAMBAJ&pg=RA1PA55&dq=Popular+Mechanics+1931+curtiss&hl=en&ei=n0b5TOKXGoG6ngebzLz3CA&sa=X&oi=book_resul
t&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDoQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=true)leftbottomofpage55
32.Flight,August151929(http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1929/19291%20%200784.html)
33.Boyne,W.J.ThebestofWingsmagazine,Brassey's(2001)
34.Wingvortexdevices(http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/aerodynamics/q0228.shtml)

References
Kermode,A.C.(1972)MechanicsofFlight,Chapter3(Eighth(metric)edition).SirIsaacPitmanandSonsLtd,
London.ISBN0273316230
Taylor,JohnW.R.TheLoreofFlight,London:UniversalBooksLtd.,1990.ISBN0950962015.
"Whatisit?AircraftCharacteristicsThatAidtheSpotter".Flight.June4,1942.

Seealso
Aircraftdesignprocess
ThereisaWikipedia
BookonAircraft
Externallinks wingconfigurations

Highwing,lowwing(http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20%200517.html)Flightarticleon
themeritsofwingposition

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