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Old March 12th 06, 03:19 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
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Default wide wingspan and good lift to drag ratios

Why is it gliders have such long slender wings? Would longer chords
give as effective lift to drag ratios at typical sailplane speeds, is
the wingspan just a more effective way of finding small thermals? My
first thought was a long wing would induce more drag at the many edges,
but clearly that's wrong.