Originally Posted by nick14
In terms of modern Pax/cargo jets, if asked, "what are the advantages of wing sweep besides the higher Mcrit?" I would still be stuck for an answer.
So would we all, it seems....
What's more, pretty well everything that does not need to get up to Mcrit has a straight wing.
I always thought that wing sweep created the Dutch Roll problem (obvious disadvantage)
Yes and no. Swept wing aircraft are prone to Dutch roll by nature, but straight wing aircraft can also exhibit it.
Check "Dutch roll" in Wikipedia : better write-up than I could do. (BTW, I don't know who does the aeronautical write-ups in Wikipedia, but generally they are quite good.)
Oh, and I see they only quote the "polite" explanation for the origin of the term (i.e., it looks the motion of a Dutch skater). The more likely explanation is that it's like a drunken Dutch sailor making his way from the pub back to his ship....
