On Monday, October 22, 2012 6:11:38 AM UTC-7, JohnDeRosa wrote:
I was asked last night "Why don't commercial airliners (747, A380,

etc) have 'super wings' like gliders?" I mumbled something semi-

coherent but didn't really know the correct answer.



So, would high aspect ratio and highly efficient glider-like wings

enhance fuel economy for all airplanes? What are the engineering

tradeoffs for wing design between a hulking airliner and a slim/trim

glider?



Sign me "I ain't no AeroE".



Thanks, John

Nearly all powered aircraft cruise at speeds way above stall. That means the lift coefficients in cruise are low, therefore the induced drag (proportional to Cl ^2) is low, therefore aspect ratio is less important.