High winged aircraft
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: UK
High winged aircraft
What is the difference in stability between high and low winged aircraft and how does this affect high winged aircraft in lateral manouveres. Also due to the interference of the airflow on high wing aircraft between the fuselage and wings in gusty conditions how will this affect its lateral stability.
many thanks for any help.
many thanks for any help.
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 343
Likes: 2
From: UK
The high wing aircraft will be more stable laterally than a low wing. When an aircraft is banked it starts to sideslip. If you just look at the sideways component of motion, in line with the banked wing, the drag line of the high wing aircraft will be above the centre of gravity and so the drag produced will tend to roll the aircraft level. You get a similar effect from a high T-tail.
So, leaving wing sweep out of this, high wing aircraft (C172) doing the same job as a low wing aircraft (PA28) need to have less dihedral.
So, leaving wing sweep out of this, high wing aircraft (C172) doing the same job as a low wing aircraft (PA28) need to have less dihedral.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,960
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From: Australia
All,
The real advantage of high wing is you can taxi through gates, having just landed on the road, but having no desire to be clobbered by a passing road train.
Otherwise, in the real world there is sod all difference.
Tootle pip!!
The real advantage of high wing is you can taxi through gates, having just landed on the road, but having no desire to be clobbered by a passing road train.
Otherwise, in the real world there is sod all difference.
Tootle pip!!
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 60
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From: London, Ontario, Canada
An interesting observation that supports Mr. Evil's post:
Take a look at the most highly developed flying machines in the world - birds. Any gliding bird (wings fixed, like an airpane) has the majority of the body side area below the wing.
10 billion sea gulls can't all be wrong!
Take a look at the most highly developed flying machines in the world - birds. Any gliding bird (wings fixed, like an airpane) has the majority of the body side area below the wing.
10 billion sea gulls can't all be wrong!
Fleet Manager
Joined: Apr 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,447
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From: various places .....
I presume that W&B is being a bit tongue in cheek here ... a cursory consideration of the physiological design problems in locating tension members (muscles) in a low wing bird design dictates that only a high wing design is going to make the grade at the initial omnipotent being/evolutionary process (take your pick) design review meetings .......
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 8,571
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From: Arizona USA
With regard to the relative merits of high vs low wing, about the only comment I can make is...the high wing aeroplane is nicely at truck bed height and therefore useful for cargo loading. Flew F.27's for a long time and they NEVER let me down, airframe or engines.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 30
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From: U.K.
I believe Mr Winterland is correct.
High wing creates a dihedral effect. To the point that anhedral may be required on high wing a/c to counteract said effect, as too much dihedral gives too much stability-poor manoeuvrebility
Don't know about the 3 degrees though. Never got that technical.
p.s. does anyone know how to spell manoeuvrebility?
High wing creates a dihedral effect. To the point that anhedral may be required on high wing a/c to counteract said effect, as too much dihedral gives too much stability-poor manoeuvrebility
Don't know about the 3 degrees though. Never got that technical.
p.s. does anyone know how to spell manoeuvrebility?
