Why did the Concorde have a delta wing?
An early prototype for Concorde had a short wing span to reduce drag, but this design also reduced the aircraft’s lift. To overcome this, the team incorporated triangle-shaped delta wings to increase the lift by producing strong vortices on their upper surfaces at high angles of attack, lowering the air pressure.
Is delta wing unstable?
Like other tailless aircraft, the tailless delta wing is not suited to high wing loadings and requires a large wing area for a given aircraft weight. The most efficient aerofoils are unstable in pitch and the tailless type must use a less efficient design and therefore a bigger wing.
The Concorde’s wing was called a delta-wing design and did the following: Reduces drag by being thin and swept back (55 degrees with the fuselage) Provides sufficient lift for takeoff and landing at subsonic speeds Provides stability in flight so that no horizontal stabilizers are needed on the tail
Why did the Concorde not have a tail?
Without a stabilizing tail, a cambered delta configuration will become unstable. The only camber which is helpful for delta wings is at the leading edge and must be compensated by a little trailing-edge up deflection of the control surfaces.
How is the shape of a Concorde different from a 747?
The long, narrow shape of the Concorde reduced the drag on the plane as it moves through the air. A Boeing 747 in flight: Note the thin, rectangular wing structure and horizontal stabilizer on the tail. Photo courtesy British Airways The wing of the Concorde was thin, swept back and triangular, whereas a 747’s wing is swept back but rectangular.
What are the different types of delta wings?
Concorde – A special form of delta wing which are double delta ogee shaped, a design that came about in an attempt to amend the optimum delta for greater efficiency at low speeds, especially during take-off and landing.