PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Sweepbacks nose high attitude on approach?
Old 1st Jul 2008, 19:12
  #14 (permalink)  
Flying Spag Monster
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: The Heavens
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't know about three magic answers but rigger's (sp?) angle is one as mentioned. Some a/c (corsair?) could adjust it for landing allowing the body angle to reduce. Aerodynamically the lift curve of a swept or delta is a lot flatter than non or less swept wing for the same aerofoil section, this is because you are considering the flow that is perpendicular to the leading edge not the total flow over the wing. Meaning, max CL is achieved at a much higher AoA therfore body angle. Some earlier fighter types and swept transports would increase parasite drag on approach to shift the total drag curve up and left, ie total drag was increased but min drag speed was actually lower. This was achieved by using speed brake on approach and even small drag chutes (B 47 I think was one type that used a chute or similar).
Flying Spag Monster is offline