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Old 11-05-2005, 06:45 PM
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e=mc2
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Default RE: Low wing design faster than a high wing design?

The high wing design allows for uninterrupted flow over the wing near the root. In a low wing that flow near the root of the wing is often disturbed by the fuselage. This allows for high wing aircraft to have lesser interference drag compared to the low wingers. However, interference drag can be (and has been) easily combatted by appropriate fillets and extended trailing edge near the fuselage.

Any interference drag reduction of high wing might be offset by the higher downwash on the tail increasing the drag due to having to maintain a larger down force on the tail.

Maybe that is why the structural benefits, better thrust line alignment and better combat visibility of the low wing might have been favored.

Cheerios!
e=mc2