How big should a wing be?

By Barnaby Wainfan

The aerodynamic characteristics of the wing have a dramatic effect on the performance of an airplane. How big to make the wing is one of the most fundamentally important decisions a designer must make. Several factors help determine the proper wing size for an airplane, and all must be considered to achieve a good design.

Wing-size choices influence a host of performance numbers. For example, in order to meet the LSA-limit stall speeds, the Arion Lightning required additional wing area. The Experimental/Amateur-Built version, shown, is faster at low altitude. …

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