Airplane Wings: The wing size and shape may vary on each type of plane, as well as the size and carrying capacity. Airplanes combine different wing sizes, shapes, and engines appropriate for the job they were designed to do. An airfoil is a cross section of a wing.

The wing size and shape impact the amount of lift created and are critical factors in the length of runway needed for takeoff. The rule of thumb is that the greater the surface area of the wing, the greater lift created. A wing that produces a large amount of lift, also produces a large amount of drag. To design a fast plane, you have to reduce drag and increase thrust. Examples of this would be a military fighter jet, i.e., small wings and large engines. By contrast, a large wing area is required to produce lift with little or no thrust, such as a glider plane.

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Please send any comments to:
Curator: Tom.Benson@grc.nasa.gov
Responsible Official: Kathy.Zona@grc.nasa.gov