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Minimum Wing Length

Index Key:   ENG003
Author:      ethann g waltermire
Subject:     Minimum wing length.
What is the shortest length an airplane wing can be, if the plane itself
weighs 775,000 pounds?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      wildman jackson
It depends on how much wing area is needed to make 775,000 pounds of lift. 
You can make the wing 1 inch wide, but it needs to be extremely long to
generate enough lift to get the plane off of the ground.  It also depends on
the shape of the wing (delta, swept, etc.).  The shape of the airfoil also
makes a huge difference.  Varying the cross-section of a wing (the airfoil)
will change the flow characteristics around it, thereby changing the
"minimum" length possible to support your plane.  It is too general of a
question to answer directly.





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