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Old 28th Sep 2010, 18:30
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code0
 
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Aspect ratio is high means the wing span is comparatively much wider than the wing chord - wider thin wings.
lets get an example. Lockheed U-2 has high aspect ratio comparing to Lockheed F-104 Startfighter which has low aspect ratio wing (this aircraft barely have a wing!!).

an aircraft is fixed with a hi aspect ratio wing to gain more lift and to have a statistically and dynamically much more stable flight. the "rolling" which occurs on the longitudinal axis of the aircraft is somewhat "slow" comparing to a highly maneuverable F-104.
high aspect ratio wing has a short chord lenght. hence the pressure difference of making different angles of attack are slower. hence rolling takes place little slower. Most cargo aircraft (and passenger) have high aspect ratio wings for this case. Generally, a high aspect ratio wing aircraft takes more take off run than a low aspect ratio wing for the same reason. many high aspect ratio aircraft are fixed with complicated leading edge and trailing edge high-lift generating devices for this matter. And some high aspect ratio aircraft have gone into the extent of STOL characteristics by having these high lift devices. On the other hand a Cessna 152 with a low aspect ratio wing, easily takes off at a small pressure on the column. I also think (not sure about this one yet) a high aspect ratio wing is fixed at a higher angle of incidence than a low wing (will clarify this matter in future).
on the other hand a low aspect ratio wing has a lengthy chord. allowing more air to pass over and below the wing, creating a high pressure difference between the surfaces. so little more u turn the control column your aircraft will response more quickly and promptly. Cessna 152-172s have low aspect ratio wings. little more you turn lot more it rolls. closely monitor most of high aspect ratio wings have vortex generators near control surfaces, ideally before ailerons to energize the airflow.

Also, there is another thing. tips of high aspect ratio wings are at a risk of stall. when you make a tight turn the tendency to stall the tips are much more. so high aspect ratio wings generally do not have high angles of bank. comparatively, a low aspect ratio aircraft is with a wider flight envelop than of a high aspect ratio aircraft.

summer it up! pressure difference created by low aspect ratio wings are much more high than a high aspect ratio wing. this pressure difference is the key factor for aircraft "rolling" maneuver.
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