A delta wing is a triangular aircraft wing shape named for its resemblance to the Greek uppercase letter delta. Although the configuration had been studied earlier, it did not find significant practical use until the Jet Age, when engineers recognized it as well suited to both high-speed subsonic and supersonic flight, and it became a foundational design for numerous military jet aircraft. The delta wing can be built stronger and lighter than an equivalent swept wing, and many variations have developed since, some adding extra stabilizing surfaces and others remaining tailless, while a flexible variant known as the Rogallo wing found separate practical use on hang gliders and ultralight aircraft.
Facts
SignificanceProved suitable for high-speed subsonic and supersonic flight once the Jet Age arrived. 1 Connections
In Field
Source Delta wing - Wikipedia
Sources
1. Delta wing - Wikipedia
Introduction, paragraph 2
did not find significant practical applications until the Jet Age, when it proved suitable for high-speed subsonic and supersonic flight
- In Group: Aircraft Wing Aerodynamic Design Features, lead sentence
In Field: Aerospace Engineering, Categories
Aircraft wing design
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