"Maxwell" luv2^fly99@cox.^net wrote in
:


"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
news
es330td wrote:
Fortune magazine online has a photo essay about their new 787. On
one page,

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/...y.boeing_dream
liner.fortune/16.html, they make this statement:

The Dreamliner's wingspan is 197 feet, or about 25% longer than a
similar-sized plane, which increases lift and reduces drag.

I thought that lift, in addition to causing a net upward force on
the wing, also contributes to the drag force on the wing as well. If
this is the case then increasing lift should also increase drag.
Did I misunderstand?

The lift and drag curves for any given wing are a function of wing
design. Although induced drag is a product of lift creation, the
design of the wing could easily change the lift and drag coefficients
and make the wing more efficient.
These are complicated inter-relationships, and sometimes, when doing
an article in a non technical venue, a writer will simply present the
tip of the iceberg.
This isn't necessarily wrong but you will probably notice a distinct
difference between an article on wing design written for Fortune as
opposed to one written for Aviation Weekly :-)


--
Dudley Henriques

I think you can say more and explain less than anyone I have ever
heard.

That's just because you're too dim to undestand the instructions on how
to open up your pop tarts.


Bertie