What is the purpose of the sweepback design in high-speed aircraft?

What is the purpose of the sweepback design in high-speed aircraft?

• A. To improve fuel efficiency
• B. To stabilize the aircraft
• C. To increase critical Mach number
• D. To reduce drag during landing

Answer: (C)

The purpose of the sweepback design in high-speed aircraft primarily relates to increasing the critical Mach number. This aerodynamic design feature involves angling the wings backward, which helps delay the onset of shock waves as the aircraft approaches transonic speeds. As an aircraft moves closer to the speed of sound, waves start to compress along the wing, leading to increased drag and potentially adverse aerodynamic effects. Sweepback reduces the effective area of the wing that interacts with these compressibility effects. By increasing the critical Mach number, aircraft can fly faster without encountering significant drag increase or control issues, thus enhancing their performance in high-speed flight regimes. In contrast, while fuel efficiency can be impacted by wing design, the primary focus of the sweepback design is not directly on fuel savings. Stabilization of the aircraft is generally more associated with control surface design and the overall aerodynamic balance rather than sweepback alone. Additionally, drag reduction during landing can be achieved through different means, such as flaps and landing gear design, rather than the wing's sweep angle, which is more critical for high-speed flight dynamics.

The purpose of the sweepback design in high-speed aircraft primarily relates to increasing the critical Mach number. This aerodynamic design feature involves angling the wings backward, which helps delay the onset of shock waves as the aircraft approaches transonic speeds. As an aircraft moves closer to the speed of sound, waves start to compress along the wing, leading to increased drag and potentially adverse aerodynamic effects. Sweepback reduces the effective area of the wing that interacts with these compressibility effects. By increasing the critical Mach number, aircraft can fly faster without encountering significant drag increase or control issues, thus enhancing their performance in high-speed flight regimes.

In contrast, while fuel efficiency can be impacted by wing design, the primary focus of the sweepback design is not directly on fuel savings. Stabilization of the aircraft is generally more associated with control surface design and the overall aerodynamic balance rather than sweepback alone. Additionally, drag reduction during landing can be achieved through different means, such as flaps and landing gear design, rather than the wing's sweep angle, which is more critical for high-speed flight dynamics.