There are various wing shapes found in aircraft, with swept-back, rectangular, and tapered wings being the most common in today’s aircraft. Another type is the delta wing, which is predominantly found in military jets and was a feature in supersonic airliners of the past, such as the Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144. However, you might be wondering why modern commercial aircraft no longer use delta wings as much as military planes do.
The last commercial plane to use a delta wing was the Aerospatiale BAC Concorde. In 2003, the Concorde was officially retired from commercial airline services, making delta wing planes mostly limited to military use. Some of the most popular military aircraft with delta wings include the Dassault Mirage, the IAI Kfir, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale, the F-106 Delta Dart, and the MiG-21 Fishbed, among others.
Advantages of a Delta Wing
The advantages and disadvantages of a delta wing design are important to understanding why it is favored in military jets up to this day but not in commercial aircraft. Delta wings offer several benefits, particularly in high-speed, high-altitude flight. They provide excellent stability and control at supersonic speeds, making them ideal for fighter jets and other high-performance military aircraft. The structure of delta wings allows for a large surface area, contributing to increased lift and carrying capacity, which is essential for combat aircraft carrying weapons and fuel.
Delta wings are known for their high tolerance to stalling due to the reaction lift generated by the wing and the vortex created at the leading edge. This configuration allows the aircraft to maintain stability even at a high angle of attack (AoA). The significant advantage here is the ability to achieve a higher vertical speed, or “rate of climb,” safely. This feature is particularly beneficial in military aircraft, where rapid ascent is often required.
The Disadvantages
However, delta wings also have disadvantages, particularly when it comes to commercial aviation. One of the main drawbacks is their performance at lower speeds and during takeoff and landing. Delta wings tend to have a higher stall speed compared to traditional wing designs. This characteristic makes them less suitable for the slower speeds and shorter runways typically associated with commercial flights. Aircraft with delta wings require higher landing and takeoff speeds. This limits the number of airports where these aircraft can operate.
Also, the larger surface area of these wings leads to increased drag, impacting the aircraft’s fuel efficiency. While the increased internal volume allows for more fuel or other storage, this does not entirely mitigate the drag issue.
The specific needs of military aircraft, such as high-speed maneuverability and payload capacity, align well with the advantages of delta wings. In contrast, the requirements of commercial airliners, such as fuel efficiency at cruising speeds, passenger comfort, and airport compatibility, make traditional wing designs more suitable. This divergence in needs explains why delta wings are now primarily seen in military aircraft and not in commercial airliners.
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