Optimal wing configuration for glider flight performance at slow speeds

Abstract

A propeller or jet engine typically powers modern aircraft. A key difference between the two is that the engines operate at faster flight speeds than propellers. Aircraft wing design becomes more important at slow speeds where propellers are used. The six most common wing configurations are dihedral, anhedral, neutral, neutral swept back, neutral swept forward, and bi-wing designs. All of these designs generate lift using Bernoulli’s principle, where faster air underneath the wing creates a pressure differential that pushes the plane upward. This paper has tested the performance of three wing configurations: dihedral, anhedral, and neutral. The wing types were tested with balsa wood gliders, and performance was assessed through the categories of distance traveled, air time, and aerodynamic stability. The dihedral wing design had the best statistics with averages of 46.7ft in distance, 20s in time, and good stability. In most categories, the neutral wing design was close behind with averages of 44.9ft, 18.9s, and good stability. The anhedral wing glider had the worst performance in all categories with averages of: 20.1ft, 9s, and low stability. Dihedral wings are thus the recommended design for low-speed gliders, though a neutral wing may also offer comparable advantages.