swept wings
Backward-tilted aircraft surfaces
Swept wings are aircraft wings angled backward (or occasionally forward) from the fuselage rather than extending straight out.
The design reduces drag at high speeds by delaying the formation of shock waves as the aircraft approaches the speed of sound.
Most jet aircraft have swept wings: The fighter's swept wings gave it a distinctive silhouette.
- aerofoilLift-producing curved surface
- leading edgeForemost position in development
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- aerodynamicsPhysics of air motion
- wind tunnelControlled airstream apparatus
aviation · sound barrier · air resistance · angle of attack · shock waves · transonic · trailing edge · supersonic flight · boundary layer · cruise speed · maneuverability · streamlining · jet fighter · fighter jet · Concorde · Boeing 747 · efficiency · wingtip