32 Wing Shapes & Nomenclature

Introduction

One of the most critically important parts of an airplane is, obviously, its wings. The wings primarily create the aerodynamic lift to overcome the aircraft’s weight. However, they also have movable surfaces, such as ailerons, flaps, spoilers, trim tabs, etc., to develop additional aerodynamic forces to control the aircraft during its flight. The photograph below shows a view of the wing of an airliner, which is not only a marvel of aeronautical engineering but aesthetically beautiful. Its refined aerodynamic design appears to slice almost effortlessly through the air, its sleek form and intricate mechanical functionality captivating both aeronautical engineers and passengers alike.

The wing of an airplane is a masterful piece of engineering. This particular wing also sports a blended winglet to help further reduce its drag.

Wings are geometrically defined in terms of their span (distance from wing tip to wing tip), planform (their shape in outline looking down on the wing from above), twist (pitch angle) distribution, and cross-section (i.e., airfoil section shape or profile shape). The shape of a wing must be engineered to give good aerodynamic efficiency in lift production for the minimum amount of drag, i.e., the maximization of the lift-to-drag ratio, which is one fundamental goal in aerodynamic design. However, there will always be other aerodynamic requirements that will factor into the shape of the wing design, including its low-speed flight, high angle of attack, and stalling characteristics.

In addition to the preceding, the wing structure must be strong enough and stiff enough to carry all the aerodynamic, weight, inertial, and other loads acting on the wing. Therefore, the wing must be structurally designed and tailored for minimum weight to resist all the stresses and meet other structural load requirements. Examples include:

  • Minimizing the loads and deformations of the wing under the action of the aerodynamic forces and moments.
  • Avoiding the onset of adverse structural bending or twisting or other aeroelastic effects and flutter.
  • Carrying undercarriage loads or other point loads such as engines and various inertial loads produced during maneuvers, etc.

The wings carry the entire weight of the aircraft, so large shear loads and bending moments are produced near the root of the wing. To this end, the wing shape typically needs to be much larger in its chord and thicker in cross-section near the fuselage than at the wing tips to obtain the required structural strength and stiffness. While airplane wings are enormously strong, they are still limited in what they can achieve aerodynamically and structurally.

Learning Objectives

  • Know the critical geometric parameters used to define the shape of a wing.
  • Calculate the wing area and aspect ratio of an arbitrary wing planform.
  • Understand the significance and use of mean wing chords.

Geometric Definition of a Wing

Engineers use various geometric parameters to describe the shapes of wings. Terms such as span, chord, mean chord, aspect ratio, and sweep angle are used routinely in wing design, and it is essential to understand what these terms mean. Other terms used in wing design include the wing’s twist or washout, the planform taper ratio, the dihedral or anhedral, and the wing section thickness-to-chord ratio.

Wing Span & Semi-Span

The span of the wing or wing span, given the symbol b, is defined as the distance from one wing tip to the other (for now, the effect of a winglet will not be considered), as shown in the figure below. Sometimes, the semi-span is used to define the wing in engineering analysis, given the symbol s and equal to b/2. The usual assumption is that the right and left wing panels are geometrically and aerodynamically mirror images. Notice that the symbol \rm C_{\!\!\!\rm \Large L} in the figure below means the centerline of the wing or aircraft.

The key geometric parameters used to describe the shape of a wing are span, semi-span, chord, and sweep angle. Learning the definitions of these parameters is essential.

Wing Chord and Planform

The wing chord is the distance from its leading edge to its trailing edge in the streamwise direction, i.e., parallel to the airplane’s longitudinal axis. The chord is given the symbol c. On many airplanes, the chord changes along the wing’s span, i.e., c = c(y) as in the above figure, mainly for aerodynamic reasons. A primary aerodynamic goal for the wing is minimizing the drag for a given amount of lift, i.e., maximizing the lift-to-drag ratio, which is an aerodynamic efficiency metric for a wing.

The shape of the wing is defined in terms of the chord distribution along the span of the wing, and when the wing is viewed from above, the resulting shape is called the planform. If y is measured from the longitudinal centerline of the aircraft (i.e., not the wing root), as shown in the figure below, then the local value of the wing chord can be expressed as
c = {\rm function} (y), where y = 0 at the centerline of the aircraft and y = s = b/2 at the wing tip. The wing chord can also be expressed in terms of the non-dimensional span where y/s = 0 at the wing centerline and y/s = 1 at the wing tip.

Geometric definition of linear planform taper of a wing.

Wings are often linearly tapered in planform, for good engineering reasons, with different values of the root chord c_0 and the tip chord c_T. Many airplanes have been designed with linearly tapered wing shapes. They offer a good compromise between weight and structural efficiency, enhancing aerodynamic performance by reducing induced drag and improving fuel efficiency.

In this case, the linear taper ratio of the wing can be defined as

(1)   \begin{equation*} \lambda = \frac{c_T}{c_0} \end{equation*}

For a linearly tapered wing, as shown in the figure above, the chord distribution along the wing will be

(2)   \begin{equation*} c (y/s) = c_0 \bigg( 1 - (1 - \lambda) \left( \frac{y}{s} \right) \bigg) \end{equation*}

The taper ratio may also be used in cases where the wing is not precisely linearly tapered to quantify the average taper of the wing planform.

Wings may not only taper in planform but also in thickness or, indeed, as combinations of taper and thickness, as shown in the figure below. Using both taper and thickness together gives considerable engineering latitude in tailoring the shape of the wing to meet a given level of aerodynamic performance and minimizes structural loads and weight. A further aerodynamic advantage may be gained by using different airfoil sections along the span, e.g., using a relatively thin airfoil section at the wing tip for low drag where the structural loads are lower and thicker airfoils further inboard where resisting structural loads are a more important consideration.

Illustration showing the geometric effects of planform taper and thickness taper.

The use of inverse wing taper is unusual, i.e., the chord increases toward the wing tip. However, it has been used to address the problem of adverse stall characteristics and a tendency to spin, a common issue in the first generation of jet aircraft with swept wings. The sweepback of the wing encourages a spanwise flow, making the wing tips more likely to stall first and reducing the effectiveness of the ailerons. However, besides increasing wing weight and roll inertia, this latter approach was unsuccessful, and other (and simpler) methods were more effective in mitigating the stall problem with swept wings.

Sweepback

Today, many airplanes have wings with sweepback, as shown in the figure below, but many lower-performance airplanes will have no sweepback. The primary aerodynamic purpose of sweepback on a wing is to delay the onset of compressibility effects and the build-up of wave drag to a higher flight Mach number and/or to reduce drag at a given Mach number, decreasing the propulsive thrust and fuel required for flight.

Using sweepback on a wing can help mitigate the onset of compressibility effects and the rise of supersonic drag caused by shock waves.

Aerodynamically, the flight Mach number component perpendicular to the wing’s leading edge primarily affects the lift and drag, assuming that the Mach number parallel to the leading edge makes no contribution, often referred to as the independence principle. Thus, for aerodynamic analysis, the free-stream Mach number, that is, the flight Mach number of the aircraft, is resolved into components normal and parallel to the wing’s leading edge based on the local sweep angle. Wings can also be swept forward to obtain the same effect. However, a problem with a forward-swept wing is that it is aeroelastically unstable and tends to twist nose-up under the action of aerodynamic loads, so forward sweep is rarely used.

Aircraft designed for sustained supersonic flight inevitably have much higher sweepback angles than subsonic airplanes; the best planform shape for supersonic flight approaches a classic “Delta” shape. However, the use of sweepback can have other effects on the aerodynamics of the wing and the airplane, including adverse stall and low-speed handling characteristics, so usually, as little as possible sweepback is used. Sweepback also tends to increase the lateral stability of the airplane. Some aircraft may have variable sweepback to optimize the flight aerodynamics, such as the B-1 bomber. Still, there is a significant structural weight penalty with such “swing-wing” designs, which will be at the expense of useful load, i.e., fuel and/or payload.

The sweepback angle is often defined by the angle made by the location of the 1/4-chord points along the span of the wing, i.e., \Lambda_{1/4} or it may be alternatively defined by the leading edge and trailing edge angles, i.e., by the values \Lambda_{\rm LE} and \Lambda_{\rm TE}, respectively. Wings may also be designed in parts with two different sweepback angles: one sweepback angle for the inboard wing panel (usually the smaller angle) and another (larger) angle for the outboard wing panel.

Wing Twist

Wings may also be slightly twisted in terms of their angle relative to the flow along their span; one purpose of wing twist is to help give the desired distribution of aerodynamic forces over the span. In practice, most wings are twisted in some form, often subtly. It is known from aerodynamic theory and practice that the spanwise form of the lift distribution is critically important in reaching the goal of minimizing induced drag. While the spanwise lift distribution is strongly affected by wing planform (i.e., the wing chord distribution), the additional use of wing twist can help to tailor the wing lift distribution to obtain the desired aerodynamic effects.

Most wings are twisted from root to tip to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Note: For clarity, the angles of twist in these figures are exaggerated.

Most wings are twisted nose-down from root to tip, i.e., the pitch angles change from wing section to section and become increasingly negative toward the wing tip. This effect is called “washing” out the wing twist, and so is called washout. Typical washout values on a wing are between 0 and 10 degrees nose-down, anything more than this being somewhat unusual. The washout may vary in value along the wing span, i.e., a larger washout at the wing tip than at its root.

Although very unusual for an airplane, if a wing is twisted nose-up along its span by increasing the wing twist from root to tip, it is called washin. One notable example was the X-29, which had a form of washin twist on its forward swept wings to control its adverse stall characteristics. Interestingly, some helicopter blades use both washout and washin, the washin twist component being used over the blade tip region to keep the tips from producing negative lift at higher forward airspeeds. Aerodynamic twist can also be incorporated into the wing design by changing the shape of the airfoil section, i.e., the angle of attack at which the section produces zero lift, which manifests similarly to what would be obtained by using geometric twist to change the local pitch angle of the wing relative to the flow.

Airfoil Sections

Wings can use various types and distributions of airfoil sections to suit the aircraft’s application. By cutting a slice out of an airplane wing and viewing it from the side, the wing cross-section is obtained, or what is usually called an airfoil section or airfoil profile, with an example shown below. It is possible to describe the shape of airfoil sections by using camber, thickness, and nose radius as primary geometric parameters. Outside of the U.S., wing sections are usually called “aerofoils.”

The key geometric parameters that define the shape of an airfoil.

In the evolution of wings, airfoil sections have progressed from simple curved plate-like shapes with little thickness inspired by birds’ wings to sophisticated shapes with camber and thickness to give high lift and low drag. Airfoils used on subsonic airplanes are usually relatively thicker and have camber, as shown in the figure below. Whereas for high-speed or supersonic aircraft, the airfoils are thinner with a small leading-edge radius and have slight camber. Notice that “thickness” usually means the section’s maximum thickness-to-chord ratio. Hence, it measures how thick the wing section is relative to its chord, i.e., thickness/chord, which is usually quoted in percent. Therefore, a thickness-to-chord ratio of 0.12 would mean an airfoil that was 12% thick.

Subsonic airfoils are generally fairly thick with camber, whereas supersonic wings are very thin and have mild or no camber.

Most wings use different airfoils along their span, which can be progressively blended together to give an overall wing design that is better than could be obtained using a single airfoil. This latter approach is often necessary with large commercial aircraft. As shown in the figure below, the need for significant thickness to carry the bending and shear loads at the wing’s root makes the airfoil design for low drag at higher flight Mach numbers rather challenging, especially when the wing operates in transonic flow. The designer can use thinner airfoils better suited to high-speed flight and transonic flow conditions toward the wing tips, where there are lower bending moments and structural stresses. Even on low-performance airplanes, there can be significant aerodynamic and performance advantages in using different airfoils at the wing root compared to the wing tip sections.

The wing must carry considerable bending and shear loads and needs to be structurally thicker at the wing root to prevent excessive structural bending displacements.

Airfoil section shapes may also introduce an aerodynamic twist along the wing span. Different cambered airfoils inevitably have different zero-lift angles of attack (although they may differ only by a degree or two at most), so other airfoils with different camber can be used to effectively twist the wing aerodynamically. The effects obtained are usually combined with a geometric twist to achieve the desired spanwise lift distribution to meet the aerodynamic performance and other goals.

It is also known that using wing twist is particularly helpful in controlling the stall developments on the wing, especially in preventing the wing tips from stalling. Therefore, tailoring the wing twist distribution and, to some extent, the airfoil sections allows the designer to have some latitude in satisfying the low-speed handling qualities of the airplane. It is not unusual for newly designed airplanes to have the airfoils over the outer wing panels changed[1] after their first flights to meet stalling and handling qualities requirements needed for certification. However, other methods may be required to control the airplane’s stall characteristics.

Dihedral & Anhedral

The dihedral angle is the upward angle that the wing panels make relative to a reference axis for the aircraft, as shown in the figure below. The primary purpose of using dihedral is to improve the aircraft’s lateral (roll) stability; usually, only a few degrees are needed to enhance stability significantly. The horizontal tail may also have some dihedral, especially on larger aircraft, contributing somewhat to the lateral stability. Some amount of dihedral will come from wing-bending structural displacements.

Using a dihedral angle on a wing improves the aircraft’s lateral or “roll” stability. Anhedral, sometimes used on specific aircraft types, has the opposite effect.

The photograph below shows an example of the use of dihedral on a Boeing 737. Notice that the main wing and horizontal tail both have a notable amount of dihedral. Good lateral stability is desirable for most aircraft, especially an airliner, so the passengers experience a smooth and comfortable ride, especially through turbulence.

A blue and white Boeing 737-800 aircraft facing the camera, moving down the airport runway. Water and low mountains in the background.
The dihedral of the main wing and the tailplane is apparent on this Boeing 737-800. This aircraft also sports a dual winglet with both upper and lower sections.

A downward wing angle is called anhedral and is somewhat less common to find on airplanes without wing sweepback or a high wing design because it decreases roll stability. However, airplanes with swept wings may use anhedral to offset the increase in roll stability from using sweepback. Airplanes with high-mounted wings also tend to have significant pendular lateral stability because the center of gravity lies below the center of the lift, as shown in the figure below. The center of lift can be assumed to be the aerodynamic “pivot” point. In this case, anhedral on the wing is needed so that the lateral stability is not too strong to make the aircraft difficult to turn and maneuver.

Gravitational pendular stability can be offset by using anhedral on the wing design.

An example of a wing with anhedral is found on the C-5 Galaxy military transport aircraft, as shown in the photograph below. The C-5 needed to have the fuselage and loading deck as close to the ground as possible, so the only design choice for this aircraft was a high wing with anhedral. While lateral stability (and stability, in general) is generally good, too much stability can make the aircraft less maneuverable and agile, and overall handling qualities can suffer, i.e., the aircraft becomes sluggish in response to control inputs. Sweepback on the wing, which is used to delay the onset of compressibility effects, can also introduce certain undesirable flight dynamic characteristics, which can be offset using anhedral.

The military C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft has anhedral on the wings to balance the inherent pendular stability caused by a high-wing design.

Calculation of Wing Area

Several derived geometric characteristics of wings, including the wing area, aspect ratio, and mean chord, are important in engineering analysis. The planform area of the wing, which is given the symbol S, is obtained by integrating the distribution of wing chord along the span from one wing tip to the other, i.e.,

(3)   \begin{equation*} S = \int_{-s}^{s} c \, dy = \int_{-b/2}^{b/2} c \, dy \end{equation*}

where c = c(y), as shown in the figure below.

Calculating the wing reference area requires a knowledge of the wing chord distribution followed by an area integration.

If both wings are of the same geometry, i.e., symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis along the fuselage, and so are mirror images of each other (which is the case on nearly all airplanes), then

(4)   \begin{equation*} S = 2 \int_{0}^{s} c \, dy = 2 \int_{0}^{b/2} c \, dy \end{equation*}

Of course, there can be a dilemma here, and a question to ask is whether the wing area is the actual area of the wing exposed to the airflow or something else. In the above equation, the former has been assumed, and the value of the area, S, is called the planform area or wing reference area.[2] However, there can be circumstances when the actual area of the wing exposed to the flow needs to be known, called the wetted area, in which case the lower limit of integration would be adjusted accordingly to start from the side of the fuselage. Therefore, it is essential to verify the actual definition(s) of the wing area used in different types of engineering analysis.

Calculation of Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio of the wing, which is given the symbol A\!R, is defined as the ratio of the square of the wing span to the wing reference area, i.e.,

(5)   \begin{equation*} A\!R = \frac{{\rm span}^2}{\rm area} = \frac{b^2}{S} = \frac{4s^2}{S} = \frac{4s^2}{2 \displaystyle{\int_{0}^{s} c \, dy}} \end{equation*}

The aspect ratio of a wing is important in aerodynamic analysis because a wing with a higher aspect ratio is generally more aerodynamically efficient and will have lower drag.

Every aircraft design will have a somewhat different wing aspect ratio. However, typical values range from 5 to 10 for a small general aviation aircraft, to 9 to 15 for a commercial transport aircraft, and 30 and higher for a glider (sailplane). As a point of reference, the Voyager aircraft that in 1986 flew around the World without refueling had a wing aspect ratio of 34, which is unusually high for an aircraft other than a sailplane.

It will be apparent that the aspect ratio of a wing is a physical measure of the geometric slenderness of the wing. The easiest way to understand this is to assume a wing of a constant chord, i.e., c(y) = c = constant. In this case, then

(6)   \begin{equation*} S = 2 \int_{0}^{s} c \, dy = 2 \, c \, s = c \, b \end{equation*}

where b = 2 s and so

(7)   \begin{equation*} A\!R = \frac{b^2}{S} = \frac{4s^2}{S} = \frac{4s^2}{2 c s} = \frac{2s}{c} = \frac{b}{c} \end{equation*}

which is just the ratio of the wing span to the chord. Therefore, a wing with a higher span and a narrower chord will have a higher aspect ratio. Hence, the numerical value of the aspect ratio becomes a measure of the slenderness of the wing.

However, the aspect ratio must be calculated using the exact wing planform; most wings will not have rectangular planforms and so the aspect ratio must be calculated by using the wing chord distribution and resulting area, i.e., using the formula

(8)   \begin{equation*} A\!R = \frac{4s^2}{2 \displaystyle{\int_{0}^{s} c \, dy}} \end{equation*}

In some cases, the wetted aspect ratio may be specified, which will use the wetted wing area rather than the reference wing area, but this is rare.

Check Your Understanding #1 – Finding the planform area & aspect ratio of a wing

The wing of a Supermarine Spitfire has an elliptical wing planform with a root chord c_0 of 100 inches and a span s of 445 inches. Calculate the planform area and aspect ratio of its wing.

Show solution/hide solution.

The chord for an elliptical wing planform shape can be expressed as

    \[ c(y) = c_0\sqrt{ 1 - \left( \frac{y}{s} \right)^2 } \]

where c_0 is the root (centerline) chord. The planform area of the wing, S, is

    \[ S = 2 \int_{0}^{s} c \, dy \]

and substituting for the chord distribution gives

    \[ S = 2 \int_{0}^{s} c_0\sqrt{ 1 - \left( \frac{y}{s} \right)^2 } \, dy = 2 c_0 \int_{0}^{s} \sqrt{ 1 - \left( \frac{y}{s} \right)^2 } \, dy \]

This is a standard integral, so

    \[ S = 2 c_0 \left[ \frac{1}{2} \left( y \sqrt{1 - \frac{y^2}{s^2} } + s \sin^{-1} \left( \frac{y}{s} \right) \right) \right]_0^s \]

or

    \[ S = c_0 \left[ y \sqrt{1 - \frac{y^2}{s^2} } + s \sin^{-1} \left( \frac{y}{s} \right) \right]_0^s = \frac{\pi c_0 s}{2} \]

Therefore, the planform area of this wing is

    \[ S = \frac{\pi c_0 s}{2} = \frac{ \pi \times (100.0/12.0) \times (445/2/12)}{2} = 242.71~\mbox{ft$^2$} \]

and the aspect ratio, A\!R, is

    \[ A\!R = \frac{b^2}{S} = \frac{4s^2}{S} = \frac{4 \times (445/2/12)^2}{242.71} = 5.67 \]

The aspect ratio of a wing on an airplane can be increased by increasing the wing span and decreasing the wing chord, as shown in the figure below; this example also holds the wing area constant. The aerodynamic advantage in doing so is a significant reduction in induced drag because the wing tip vortices (the source of this type of drag) are further away from more of the wing. However, as the aspect ratio of a wing increases, it becomes more challenging to design the wing to have sufficient stiffness and strength without increasing its weight. As a result, a more extended wing is inevitably more flexible unless some additional structure is used to stiffen the wing.

A higher aspect ratio wing has a higher span and a narrower chord. Because the wing tip vortices are further away from more of the area of a high aspect ratio wing, it has lower “induced” drag.

In airplane design, the final selection of the wing aspect ratio is inevitably a compromise between aerodynamic, structural, weight, and aeroelastic considerations. Longer wings are also heavier and more susceptible to flutter problems because they are inevitably more flexible. Nevertheless, there are tremendous aerodynamic advantages in using a wing of the highest possible aspect ratio if all of the structural, weight, flutter, and other requirements for the airplane can be satisfied.

Airplanes come in many shapes and sizes, using higher and lower aspect ratio wings, as shown in the figure below. The wing design is inevitably a compromise, which will depend on what the aircraft is designed to do in terms of its performance, weight, and cost considerations. General aviation airplanes, for example, tend to have relatively modest aspect ratio wings, which gives a good compromise between adequate aerodynamic performance and low structural weight.

Comparison of the aspect ratio of a sailplane with that of a general aviation (GA) airplane.

Sailplanes, which are high-performance gliders, typically have very high aspect ratio wings compared to powered aircraft, so they can achieve high lift-to-drag ratios and can glide long distances by design. The DG-800 in the photograph below exemplifies a modern sailplane with an aspect ratio of just over 27. These types of sailplanes may be able to glide more than 50 miles (in still air) from an altitude of only 5,000 feet.

This DG-800 is exemplary of a contemporary sailplane, with an aspect ratio of 27 and a lift-to-drag ratio of over 50.

Calculation of Mean Chords

Other derived geometric parameters relevant to wings are the standard mean chord (SMC) and the aerodynamic mean chord (AMC), also called the mean aerodynamic chord (MAC). A mean chord provides a standardized length scale that can be applied across different wing geometries, shapes, and sizes. Mean chords are used in aerodynamic analyses as a reference length, such as to calculate pitching moment coefficients. For example, in aerodynamics, the moment coefficient about some point a, can be expressed as

(9)   \begin{equation*} C_{M_{a}} = \displaystyle{ \frac{M_a}{\frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, S \, c_{\rm ref}} } \end{equation*}

where  c_{\rm ref} is a reference length. For a wing, c_{\rm ref} can be defined as the SMC or the MAC, the use of the MAC being preferred. Mean wing chords are also used as reference lengths in other aeronautical disciplines, where certain lengths and length scales may be non-dimensionalized by using the value of the mean wing chord.

Standard Mean Chord

The standard mean chord (MAC) appears in many aerodynamic contexts. The SMC is often referred to as being a “purely geometric” definition, which it is at face value, although, as will be discussed, its derivation has several “hidden” aerodynamic assumptions. These assumptions include two-dimensional flow over the entire wing and a uniform distribution of spanwise lift coefficients.

Definition

The standard mean chord (SMC), which is given the symbol \overline{c}, is defined as the ratio of the wing area to the wing span, i.e.,

(10)   \begin{equation*} {\rm SMC} = \frac{\rm area}{\rm span} = \overline{c} = \frac{2 \displaystyle{\int_{0}^{s} c \, dy}}{b} = \frac{ \displaystyle{\int_{0}^{s} c \, dy}}{s} \end{equation*}

where b = 2 s. Concerning the figure below, it will be apparent that the SMC is the chord of an equivalent rectangular wing with the same area and span that produces the same lift force. It should be noted that the wing shape is not restricted to a linearly tapered planform, as shown in the figure, and Eq. 10 is valid for any wing planform.

The work involved in obtaining the SMC value depends on the platform’s complexity, which may range from rectangular to tapered to regions with different tapers that involve geometrically distinct wing panels, perhaps also with a sweep angle. In such latter cases, the integral can be solved by finding the contribution from each part of the wing and adding them.

Derivation

The derivation of the equation for SMC proceeds by considering the elemental lift on a two-dimensional strip of the wing of area c \, dy. Only the half-wing needs to be considered, the assumption being that both wing panels have mirror geometric and aerodynamic symmetry.

The lift on the element is given by the usual formula, i.e.,

(11)   \begin{equation*} dL = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_l \, c \, dy \end{equation*}

where c = c (y) is the local chord and C_l = C_l (y) is the local sectional lift coefficient. The total lift on the wing is then

(12)   \begin{equation*} L = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \int_{-s}^{s} \, C_l \, c \, dy \end{equation*}

The total lift on the wing can also be written as

(13)   \begin{equation*} L = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_L \, \overline{c} \, b = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_L \, S \end{equation*}

where S = \overline{c} \, b, i.e., the areas of the actual wing and the equivalent rectangular wing are equal. (Remember that s is the semi-span of the wing, and S is the wing area.) Notice that C_L is the wing’s total lift coefficient. Equating Eqs. 12 and 13 gives

(14)   \begin{equation*} C_L \, \overline{c} \, b = \int_{-s}^{s} \, C_l \, c \, dy \end{equation*}

Making the aerodynamic assumption that C_l(y) = C_L, i.e., the local lift coefficient is constant at all sections over the wing span and equal to the total lift coefficient, then

(15)   \begin{equation*} {\rm SMC} = \overline{c} = \frac{\displaystyle{\int_{-s}^{s} c \, dy}}{b} = \frac{\displaystyle{\int_{0}^{s} c \, dy}}{s} \end{equation*}

which was previously defined in Eq. 10.

Therefore, while the definition of the SMC is ultimately geometric, one assumption behind its definition is that the wing comprises two-dimensional airfoils with a uniform lift coefficient across the span. However, despite arguments about the validity of the aerodynamic assumptions, it does not matter because the SMC is simply a definition used as a reference standard. To this end, the SMC is helpful for many purposes because it allows the comparison of wings and their aerodynamic characteristics on a common basis. For this reason, all engineers subscribe to the same definition of the SMC.

Because the lift per unit span is

(16)   \begin{equation*} \frac{dL}{dy} = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_l \, c \end{equation*}

then it will be apparent that with this assumption, the local lift force per unit span (as opposed to the lift coefficient) is proportional to the chord. Other than for the region near the wing tip where there are three-dimensional effects, including those from the wing tip vortex, Eq. 16 provides a first approximation to the spanwise lift distribution on a wing, as shown in the figure below.

Planform effects on the span loading on a wing are based on two-dimensional theory with a constant lift coefficient.

Mean Aerodynamic Chord

The mean aerodynamic chord (MAC), sometimes called the aerodynamic mean chord (AMC), is frequently encountered in aerodynamics. The AMC can be easily confused with the SMC, but they are different quantities and numerical values. Like the SMC, the MAC is often referred to as being a “purely geometric” definition, which it is; however, as will be discussed, like the SMC, its derivation also has several assumptions.

Definition

The mean aerodynamic chord (MAC) is defined as the chord of an equivalent rectangular wing that would experience aerodynamic forces and moments identical to those of the actual wing. The MAC is defined as

(17)   \begin{equation*} {\rm MAC} = \overline{\overline{c}} = \frac{2 \displaystyle{\int_{0}^{s} c^2 dy}}{S} \end{equation*}

This is another type of “average” aerodynamic chord definition for the wing. It is more frequently used because both forces and moments on the wing are considered equivalent in this definition. Again, the work involved in finding the MAC depends on the complexity of the wing planform.

Derivation

The derivation of the equation for the MAC proceeds similarly to that for the SMC. In this case, however, a pitching moment must be calculated. Concerning the figure below, which is for an unswept wing to simplify the process, the locations of the aerodynamic center for each wing section lie parallel to the y axis. Notice that for a thin airfoil in an incompressible flow, the aerodynamic center is at the quarter-chord point, i.e., x_{\rm ac} = c /4; the aerodynamic center is a fixed point independent of C_l. Again, only the half-wing needs to be considered.

For each two-dimensional strip, taking pitching moments about the spanwise y axis that runs through the apex of the wing, as shown in the figure below, then

(18)   \begin{equation*} dM_y = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_l \, x_{\rm ac} \, c \, dy \end{equation*}

The principle of the mean aerodynamic chord (MAC) is to create an equivalent rectangular wing of the same area with the same lift and pitching moment.

The total pitching moment produced by the entire wing is then

(19)   \begin{equation*} M_y = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \int_{-s}^{s} \, C_l \, x_{\rm ac} \, c \, dy = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \int_{-s}^{s} \, C_l \, \left( \dfrac{ x_{\rm ac}}{c} \right) c^2 \, dy \end{equation*}

The total moment can also be written as

(20)   \begin{equation*} M_y = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_L \, \overline{\overline{c}} \left( \dfrac{x_{\rm ac}}{\overline{\overline{c}}} \right) \left( \overline{\overline{c}} \, b \right) = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_L \, \overline{\overline{c}} \left( \dfrac{x_{\rm ac}}{\overline{\overline{c}}} \right) S \end{equation*}

where S = \overline{\overline{c}} \, b, i.e., the areas of the actual wing and the equivalent rectangular wing are equal.

Notice in Eq. 20 that the aerodynamic center location in Eq. 20 is now expressed as a fraction of the MAC, i.e., \overline{\overline{c}}. It will be apparent that in aerodynamic terms then the value of x_{\rm ac} as a fraction of c will be identical to the value of x_{\rm ac} as a fraction of \overline{\overline{c}}, i.e.,

(21)   \begin{equation*} \dfrac{x_{\rm ac}}{\overline{\overline{c}}} = \dfrac{x_{\rm ac}}{c} \left( = \frac{1}{4}~\mbox{for~incompressible~flow.} \right) \end{equation*}

which also gives the chordwise location of the center of lift on the equivalent rectangular wing. Equating Eqs. 19 and 20 gives

(22)   \begin{equation*} \int_{-s}^{s} \, C_l \, \left( \dfrac{ x_{\rm ac}}{c} \right) c^2 \, dy = C_L \, \overline{\overline{c}} \left( \dfrac{x_{\rm ac}}{\overline{\overline{c}}} \right) S \end{equation*}

Using Eq. 21 and making the same aerodynamic assumption as previously used for the SMC that C_l (y) = C_L, then

(23)   \begin{equation*} \int_{-s}^{s} c^2 \, dy = \overline{\overline{c}} \, S \end{equation*}

so that

(24)   \begin{equation*} {\rm MAC} = \overline{\overline{c}} = \frac{\displaystyle{\int_{-s}^{s} c^2 \, dy}}{S} \end{equation*}

which was previously defined in Eq. 17. It will also be apparent that the lift produced on both the wing and the equivalent rectangular wing are equal because

(25)   \begin{equation*} \int_{-s}^{s} c \, dy = \overline{\overline{c}} (2 \, s) b = \overline{\overline{c}} \, b \end{equation*}

In general, the MAC is written as

(26)   \begin{equation*} {\rm MAC} = \overline{\overline{c}} = \frac{\displaystyle{\int_{-s}^{s} c^2 \, dy}}{\displaystyle{\int_{-s}^{s} c \, dy}} \end{equation*}

which is based on the wing geometry alone, despite the aerodynamic assumptions used in its derivation. Again, like the SMC, the physical justification of the aerodynamic assumptions is irrelevant because the MAC is simply a standardized definition that everyone subscribes to.

As a corollary to the preceding, the spanwise location of the center of lift, i.e., the spanwise aerodynamic center, can also be determined by taking moments about the x axis. In this case

(27)   \begin{equation*} M_x = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \int_{-s}^{s} \, C_l \, y \, c \, dy \end{equation*}

The total moment can also be written as

(28)   \begin{equation*} M_x = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_L \, y_{\rm ac} \, S = \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_L \, \left( \dfrac{ y_{\rm ac}}{s} \right) s \left( \overline{\overline{c}} \, b \right) \end{equation*}

giving

(29)   \begin{equation*} M_x= \frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, C_L \, \left( \dfrac{ y_{\rm ac}}{s} \right) \left( 2 \, \overline{\overline{c}} \, s^2\right) \end{equation*}

Therefore, using Eqs. 27 and 29, and with the same assumptions as used previously, gives

(30)   \begin{equation*} \dfrac{ y_{\rm ac} }{s} = \dfrac{ \displaystyle{ \int_{-s}^{s} \, y \, c \, dy} }{ 2 \, \overline{\overline{c}} \, s^2 } = \dfrac{ \displaystyle{ \int_{0}^{s} \, y \, c \, dy} }{ \overline{\overline{c}} \, s^2 } \end{equation*}

The value of  y_{\rm ac} is the effective spanwise location of the aerodynamic center. Notice that in the case of a rectangular wing with c = constant, i.e., \overline{\overline{c}} = c, then

(31)   \begin{equation*} \dfrac{ y_{\rm ac} }{s} = \dfrac{ c \displaystyle{ \int_{0}^{s} \, y \, dy} }{ \overline{\overline{c}} \, s^2 } = \frac{c \, s^2}{2 \, c \, s^2} = \frac{1}{2} \end{equation*}

which is exactly at mid-span, as expected for a uniformly spanwise loaded wing.

Notice that, in principle, the SMC and the MAC can be determined for any wing, including horizontal and vertical stabilizers. However, in all cases, the evaluation will involve spanwise integration, either analytically or numerically.[3]

The addition of constant angle sweepback angle, \Lambda, on the wing, for example, will move the locus of the chordwise aerodynamic center locations further behind the reference moment axes, adding y \tan \Lambda to the moment arms in Eq. 19. However, it can be easily shown (again, using geometry) that relative to the equivalent rectangular wing, the chordwise location of the aerodynamic center is independent of the wing sweep angle, at least for a trapezoidal type of wing planform.

It is important to remember that mean (average) wing chords are used as reference lengths in aerodynamics and other related aeronautical disciplines. For example, as mentioned previously, the aerodynamic pitching moment coefficient for a finite wing about some point a, is defined as

(32)   \begin{equation*} C_{M_{a}} = \displaystyle{ \frac{M_a}{\frac{1}{2} \varrho_{\infty} V_{\infty}^2 \, S \, c_{\rm ref}} } \end{equation*}

where usually c_{\rm ref} = \overline{\overline{c}}, although in some cases c_{\rm ref} = \overline{c} may be used. It is important to note that the specific definition used in any application can vary.[4] In fields such as flight dynamics, the values of the quantified parameters are measured relative to a datum point or reference axis, such as the neutral point, center of gravity, etc., and are often quoted as a fraction of a mean chord.

SMC & MAC of a Linearly Tapered Wing

A linearly tapered wing is one of the most common wing planforms, as shown in the figure below, which is also useful for instructional purposes. It has a chord distribution that can be expressed as

(33)   \begin{equation*} c(y) = c_0 - \lambda y \end{equation*}

where \lambda is a constant. Notice that when y = 0 then c = c_0 (the root chord) and when y = s then c = c_0 - \lambda s = c_t (the tip chord).

Geometry of a linearly tapered wing panel.

Analysis for the SMC

The area of this wing is given by

(34)   \begin{equation*} S = \int_{-s}^s c \, dy = 2 \int_0^s c(y) dy = 2 \int_0^s \left( c_0 - \lambda y \right) dy \end{equation*}

Performing the integration gives

(35)   \begin{equation*} S = 2 \left[ c_0 y - \lambda \frac{y^2}{2} \right]_0^s = 2 s \left( c_0 - \frac{\lambda s}{2} \right) = s \left( 2 c_0 - \lambda s \right) \end{equation*}

Therefore,

(36)   \begin{equation*} \overline{c} = \dfrac{s \left( 2 c_0 - \lambda s \right)}{2s} = c_0 - \dfrac{\lambda}{2} s \end{equation*}

Furthermore, because c_t = c_0 - \lambda s, then

(37)   \begin{equation*} S = s \left( c_0 + c_0 - \lambda s \right) = s \left( c_0 + c_t \right) = 2s \left( \dfrac{c_0 + c_t}{2} \right) = b \left( \dfrac{c_0 + c_t}{2} \right) \end{equation*}

which is the combined area of two trapezoids. Therefore,

(38)   \begin{equation*} \overline{c} = \dfrac{b \left( \dfrac{c_0 + c_t}{2} \right)}{b} = \dfrac{c_0 + c_t}{2} \end{equation*}

which is just the average of the chord over the span.

Specific Case

Consider a specific case where \lambda = 0.5 \, c_0/s = c_0/2s then c_t = c_0/2, which is a trapezoidal wing planform with a 2:1 taper ratio, then

(39)   \begin{equation*} S = b \left( \dfrac{c_0 + \dfrac{c_0}{2} }{2} \right) = \dfrac{3}{4} b \, c_0 \end{equation*}

For the SMC, then

(40)   \begin{equation*} \overline{c} = \dfrac{\displaystyle{\int_{-s}^{s} c \, dy}}{b} = \dfrac{S}{b} =\dfrac{\displaystyle{\int_{0}^{s} c \, dy}}{s} \end{equation*}

Therefore,

(41)   \begin{equation*} \overline{c} = s \left( \dfrac{c_0 + c_t}{2 s} \right) = \left( \dfrac{c_0 + c_t}{2} \right) \end{equation*}

which is the average of the root and tip chords. For a 2:1 taper where \lambda = c_0/2s, then

(42)   \begin{equation*} \overline{c} = \left( \dfrac{c_0 + \dfrac{c_0}{2} }{2} \right) = \dfrac{3}{4} \, c_0 \end{equation*}

as shown in the figure below.

Interpretation of the standard mean chord (SMC) and the mean aerodynamic chord (MAC) for a linearly tapered wing.

Notice that because

(43)   \begin{equation*} c(y) = c_0 - \left( \frac {c_0}{2s} \right) y \end{equation*}

then the value of y when c = \overline{c} = 3 c_0/4 will be

(44)   \begin{equation*} y (\overline{c} ) = \dfrac{2 s \left( c_0 -\dfrac{3}{4} \, c_0 \right) }{c_0} = \dfrac{s}{2} \end{equation*}

which is at the halfway point along the span. Indeed, for any uniformly linearly tapered wing panel, the value of the SMC is equal to the chord at the mid-span location.

Notice also that

(45)   \begin{equation*} \overline{c} \, b = \left( \dfrac{3}{4} c_0 \right) b = S \end{equation*}

confirming the wing with the standard mean chord has the same area as the linearly tapered wing.

Geometric Interpretation of the SMC

The value of the SMC can also be obtained geometrically (graphically), as shown in the figure below for a linearly tapered wing. Such an approach may provide insights not immediately evident from numerical calculations alone and can be helpful in some contexts. The process visually represents how chord lengths are distributed along the wing or airfoil, then graphically finds the average geometric chord.

Geometric interpretation of the standard mean chord (SMC).

Using the principles of analytic geometry, the spanwise location and value of the SMC come about by finding the intersections between straight lines. Adding the length c_0 to the leading and trailing edges of the tip chord, as shown, gives two points at the extended wing tip, namely B and C. A straight line is drawn from the wing’s apex at point A to point D, and another straight line from the nadir (trailing edge of the root chord) at point D to point C. The intersection of these two lines with the leading edge (point E) and trailing edge (point F) of the wing panel gives the spanwise location and value of the SMC.

While a useful visual interpretation of the mean chord is useful, its proper value would typically be obtained analytically or numerically. Again, it should be remembered that for any linearly tapered wing panel, the SMC is always the value of the local chord at the mid-span location.

Analysis for the MAC

The MAC for this linearly tapered wing panel, which takes some more work to determine, is given by

(46)   \begin{equation*} \overline{\overline{c}} = \frac{ \displaystyle{\int_{-s}^{s} c^2 \, dy}}{S} = \frac{ 2 \displaystyle{\int_{0}^{s} \left( c_0 - \lambda y \right)^2 \, dy}}{S} = \dfrac{ \displaystyle{ 2 \left[ c_0^2 y - c_0 \lambda y^2 +\dfrac{\lambda^2 y^3}{3} \right]_0^s }}{S} \end{equation*}

After integration, then

(47)   \begin{equation*} \overline{\overline{c}} = \dfrac{2 \left( c_0^2 - c_0 \lambda s + \dfrac{\lambda^2 s^2}{3} \right)}{\left( 2 c_0 - \lambda s \right)} \end{equation*}

Again, take the wing planform with a 2:1 taper ratio where \lambda = c_0/2s, then

(48)   \begin{equation*} \overline{\overline{c}} = \dfrac{2 \left( c_0^2 - c_0 \left( \dfrac{c_0}{2 s} \right) s + \left( \dfrac{c_0}{2 s} \right)^2 \dfrac{s^2}{3} \right)}{\left( 2 c_0 - \left( \dfrac{c_0}{2 s} \right) s \right)} = \dfrac{2 c_0^2 - c_0^2 + \dfrac{c_0^2}{6}} {\dfrac{3}{2} c_0} = \dfrac{7}{9} c_0 \end{equation*}

Check Your Understanding #2 – Finding wing parameters

A wing has an aspect ratio of 12. According to the equation below, the wing’s chord varies smoothly and continuously outward from the aircraft’s centerline. Calculate the span and planform area of this wing.

    \[ c(y) = 1 - 0.32 \left( \frac{y}{b} \right)~~\mbox{in units of meters} \]

Show solution/hide solution.

The planform area of the wing, S, is

    \[ S = 2 \int_{0}^{s} c \, dy \]

The chord is

    \[ c(y) = 1 - 0.32 \left( \frac{y}{b} \right) = 1 - 0.32 \left( \frac{y}{2s} \right) = 1 - 0.16 \left( \frac{y}{s} \right) \]

and substituting for the chord distribution, c(y), gives

    \[ S = 2 \int_{0}^{s} c \, dy = 2 \int_{0}^{s} \left( 1.0 - 0.16 \left( \frac{y}{s} \right) \right) dy \]

so that

    \[ S = 2 \left[ 1.0 y - \frac{0.08}{s} y^2 \right]_0^s = 2(s - 0.08s) = 1.84s \]

noting that b = 2 s. The aspect ratio, A\!R,  is

    \[ A\!R = \frac{b^2}{S} = \frac{4s^2}{S} = \frac{4s^2}{1.84s} = 2.174 s \]

Therefore, solving for the span, b, for an aspect ratio of 12 gives

    \[ b = 2s = 2 \left( \frac{A\!R}{2.174} \right) = \frac{2 \times 12}{2.174} = 11.04~\mbox{m} \]

The wing’s planform area is

    \[ S = 1.84 s = 1.84/b/2= 1.84 \times 5.52= 10.157~\mbox{m$^2$} \]

Winglets

Winglets can be used to increase the effective aspect ratio of the wing without substantially increasing the wingspan. Winglets were designed by Richard Whitcomb at NASA Langley to help move the wing tip vortices away from more of the wing and reduce the induced drag. Winglets do nothing to reduce the strength of the wing tip vortices. The effects are often apparent from the natural flow visualization, as shown in the photograph below, where it can be seen that the wing tip vortex is trailed from the very tip of the winglet, i.e., increasing the effective aspect ratio of the wing. One approach to quantify this effect is to use an aspect ratio correction of the form

(49)   \begin{equation*} A\!R_{\rm eff} = AR \left( 1 + K_{\rm wl} \, \frac{h_{\rm wl}}{s} \right) \end{equation*}

where A\!R_{\rm eff} is the “effective” or corrected aspect ratio, h_{\rm wl} is the length or height of the winglet, and K_{\rm wl}, is a coefficient that depends on the winglet design. K_{\rm wl} = 1 for a classic winglet. While winglets add some wetted area, thereby increasing skin friction and overall profile drag, there is still a net reduction in total aircraft drag from using the winglet.

A Boeing A330 Aircraft flying away from the camera on a clear sky background. White water vapor is trailing off the wings and the winglet tips.
Natural flow visualization in the form of water vapor about a wing shows a vortex trailing from the tip of each winglet.

As shown in the images below, many different variations of winglets have been used on commercial airliners. Today, the trend is toward using more blended winglets with smooth chord variations in the wing-to-winglet transition area, which helps minimize the profile drag while maximizing induced drag reductions.

Many different winglet designs have been used in airplanes. The winglets help increase the effective aspect ratio of the wing and reduce the induced drag from the wing tip vortices.

More recent variations of the winglet appear on aircraft such as the Boeing 737 MAX, as shown in the photograph below, which is designed further to reduce the induced drag from the lifting wing and improve the aircraft’s flight efficiency and range. Increasing the length (height) of a traditional winglet from the wing’s top surface helps to further reduce the induced drag, at least to a point, but it also increases the wing’s overall structural weight. Adding another winglet pointing downwards realizes the aerodynamic benefits without as much weight penalty, perhaps a further 1%. While this may seem like a slight drag reduction, the potential fuel savings are still significant over the aircraft’s operational life, which can benefit an airline by tens of millions of dollars per aircraft. It seems unlikely, however, that further reductions in induced drag can be realized by yet more permutations of the basic winglet design.

Boeing’s Advanced Technology Winglet is claimed to reduce the 737 MAX’s fuel consumption by up to 1%.

Summary & Closure

The geometrical parameters that define the shape of a wing include its span, chord distribution, aspect ratio, washout or another type of twist, and airfoil section shape. Wings may also have winglets, which help reduce overall wing drag. The overarching design requirement is to engineer the wing for good aerodynamic efficiency in terms of its lift-to-drag ratio at normal flight conditions and off-design conditions such as stall. The aerodynamics, however, also need to be balanced against the structural design of the wing in terms of its strength and stiffness, amongst other requirements such as flutter avoidance. Using winglets in increasingly innovative forms has led to significant drag reductions on wings that can save substantial amounts of fuel, especially for an airliner.

In airplane design, wing area and aspect ratio are essential in determining flight performance characteristics. Planform area, representing the projected area of the wing, directly influences lift generation, affecting the airplane’s payload capacity, maneuverability, and efficiency at different airspeeds. Aspect ratio, the ratio of wingspan to chord, determines lift efficiency and drag, with higher aspect ratios giving lower drag to the airplane, resulting in better fuel efficiency and higher cruising speeds. These parameters are tailored to the aircraft’s intended mission, with commercial airliners favoring higher wing aspect ratios for efficiency, fighter jets opting for lower ratios for high airspeed and flight agility, and sailplanes utilizing very high aspect ratio wings for superior soaring performance. Therefore, engineers must be able to calculate wing areas, aspect ratios, and mean chords, which are important quantities used to characterize, design, and compare different aspects of aircraft performance.

5-Question Self-Assessment Quickquiz

For Further Thought or Discussion

  • Do some research to determine what types of powered airplanes typically have the highest aspect ratio wings.
  • Consider some non-engineering reasons for a large commercial airplane that may limit the wing span.
  • Why do sailplanes have extremely high aspect ratio wings? Explain carefully.
  • Why do many fighter jet airplanes use sweptback wings with anhedral? Are there any commercial airliners that use wings with anhedral?
  • Why might an airplane use a forward-swept wing rather than an aft-swept wing? Have there been any aircraft built with a forward-swept wing?
  • Have any airplanes been successfully flown with a different left versus right wing?
  • What might be the relative advantages of a conventional winglet versus a blended winglet?

Other Useful Online Resources

For more in-depth information on wings and wing shapes:

  1. Usually with the addition of nose camber. ↵
  2. It is important not to confuse the wing area (capital "S") with the semi-span of the wing (lowercase "s"). ↵
  3. The effort involved depends mainly on one's proficiency with geometry rather than aerodynamics. ↵
  4. The ability to reconcile different results for pitching moment coefficients often comes down to the realization that definitions and reference lengths can vary. ↵

License

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Introduction to Aerospace Flight Vehicles Copyright © 2022–2025 by J. Gordon Leishman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15394/eaglepub.2022.1066.n20