Aero Fact: Why Sweep Wings?
Swept wings delay compressibility effects and reduce wave drag at transonic speeds.
By AircoreDynamics •
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1 min read
Definition: Sweep reduces the component of Mach normal to the airfoil section.
Physics insight: M⊥ = M∞ cos(Λ). Lower normal component raises Mcrit for a given free-stream Mach.
Example: A 35° swept wing can notably reduce wave drag at the same M∞.
M⊥ = M cosΛ; wave drag ~ f(M⊥)
Rules of thumb: More sweep impacts low-speed performance and structural demands.
Common pitfalls: Increases Dutch roll tendency; yaw damper becomes more critical.
References: Torenbeek; Roskam