Högvinge

Högvinge, literally meaning "high wing" in Swedish, is an aircraft wing configuration in which the wings are mounted on the upper part of the fuselage. This contrasts with low-wing and mid-wing layouts. The high-wing arrangement is common in general aviation, bush planes, cargo aircraft, and several military transport types. Wings may be braced with struts or be cantilever, and engines can be mounted on the wing or on the fuselage.

Benefits of a högvinge design include good visibility of the ground during approach and landing, improved ground clearance for landing gear and propellers on rough or unprepared fields, and typically enhanced lateral stability at low speeds. The arrangement also often facilitates easy loading and unloading through side doors in many light aircraft, and it can contribute to benign handling characteristics for training and recreational flying.

Limitations of high-wing aircraft include potential for increased interference drag at higher speeds and, in some configurations, reduced roll efficiency. The wing location can complicate certain aerodynamic refinements and may impose additional structural weight. Because of these factors, högvinge designs are especially common among utility, sport, and training aircraft that prioritize stability, short-field performance, and rugged operation over ultimate speed.

Notable examples of högvinge aircraft include the Cessna 172 and 182, the Piper PA-18 Super Cub family, the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, the DHC-6 Twin Otter, and the Antonov An-2. In Swedish aviation discourse, the term is used to describe this widely adopted configuration.