straightwing

A straightwing is a type of aircraft wing characterized by its straight, un-swept leading and trailing edges. This design is in contrast to swept wings, which are angled backward or forward relative to the fuselage. Straight wings are a common feature on many early aircraft and remain in use on a variety of modern aircraft, particularly those operating at lower speeds or requiring high maneuverability.

The primary advantage of a straight wing is its structural simplicity and ease of construction. It also offers good lift characteristics at low speeds, making it suitable for trainers, gliders, and some light aircraft. Furthermore, straight wings tend to have better stall characteristics than swept wings, often stalling from the wingtips inward, which aids in maintaining aileron control.

However, straight wings are less efficient at high speeds. As an aircraft's speed increases, the air flowing over a straight wing approaches the speed of sound, leading to increased drag and potential compressibility issues. This is why most high-speed jet aircraft utilize swept wings, which delay the onset of these effects. Despite this limitation, the straight wing design continues to be a practical and effective choice for many aviation applications where high-speed performance is not the primary requirement.