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Old 1st Jun 2007, 12:42
  #12 (permalink)  
FE Hoppy
 
Join Date: Sep 1998
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Yes!

If the wing is designed with one thing in mind. I.e. to produce x lift at y speed then the design would be very simple. But if you give the designer a range of weights speeds altitudes with constraints on pitching moments etc. etc. etc then the Wing becomes a compromise and may need tweaks like vortex generators, turbulators, boundary layer fences and "Winglets". The commercial department may ask for a certain look too. "If all the latest jets have winglets we should have them"

So
variable camber, twist, sweep, chord to wingspan ratio, nor vertical angle
all of these are used for a reason but all for the same reason and there are many variations that could achieve the same results.

Wing = Compromise.
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