Re: Misconceptions: Physics of Flight

[brian whatcott <inet@INTELLISYS.NET>]

At 00:44 8/14/99 -0400, John Denker wrote:
> ... the shape of the leading edge is by no means the determining
> factor.  In fact, the shape of the *trailing* edge is more important!  Why
> do you think they control the airplane with ailerons on the trailing edge?


This comment offers insight into another misconception.
 People are often aware that the Wright Flyer was the first truly
controlable airplane. It did not use ailerons - they had yet to be invented
 - or at least named by the French, but the Flyer used something rather
 similar called wing warping.   What is now of concern in modern wings -
lack of torsional stiffness - was an advantage there, where the trailing
edge could be warped downwards.
    But people conceive that the low trailing edge lifted the wing - wrongly.
The low wing dropped and slowed the Flyer as it turned towards it.


brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK