Questions for "Design of the Wing"
Answer the following questions to the best of your ability. You may use references to answer such as your textbook, or the online material. If you wish feed back on your answers, you may cut and paste the answers to email and send the answers (NOT the questions) to: efcarter@island.net
Include the subject that the questions apply to in the topic line of your email (ie/ Theory of Flight - Design of the Wing)
Expect a reply in about 2-3 days.
1. Define "airfoil".
2. What does "planform" mean?
3. The aspect ratio is the ratio between the _________ and the ___________, and is found by dividing the ____________ by the average ____________. Fill in the blanks.
4. What is the angle of incidence?
5. What do winglets help to prevent?
6. Wash-in and wash-out allow which control surface to function after the wing root has stalled?
7. A laminar flow airfoil has a different shape than conventional airfoils. Describe the differences.
8. What type of airfoil would be suitable for a fighter type airplane?
9. Describe the airfoil that would be used for a transport type airplane.
10. What device automatically deploys itself at high angles of attack to help smooth the airflow over the wing?
11. Describe slots.
12. Spoilers increase ___________ and decrease ____________. Fill in the blanks.
13. ____________ are high lift devices which increase the camber of the wing. Fill in the blank.
14. What are the advantages of flaps? (list four)
15. Do flaps increase drag?
Try these multiple choice questions:
16. Lowering the flaps will:
a) increase gliding angle b) increase stalling speed
c) increase airspeed d) decrease drag
17. The purpose of spoilers are to:
a) increase drag and decrease lift
b) increase drag and increase lift
c) decrease drag and increase lift
d) decrease drag and decrease lift
18. "High aspect ratio" is best explained by stating:
a) highest angle of attack to the relative wind
b) the span is long and the chord is short
c) the span is short and the chord is wide
d) the angle of attack produces the best lift to drag ratio
19. The angle formed between the chord line and the longitudinal axis is called the:
a) angle of attack b) drag angle
c) angle of incidence d) aspect ratio
20. Wash-in and wash-out is used in aircraft design to improve stall characteristics by ensuring:
a) the wing root stalls before the wing tip
b) that both wings suddenly and completely stall at exactly the same time
c) the right wing stalls just before the left wing to prevent spins due to propeller torque effect.
d) the wing tip stalls before the wing root.