How to get greater lift from an aircraft wing

[Dusan Stan]

You could optimize the lift loading to be elliptical. And as CWatters suggested use an airfoil that provide more L/D for your specific Reynolds number.

 

[Joseph Patrick Kane]

TC --- Just what is meant by Wing Span? Does it just mean the distance from wing tip to wingtip? Does it also include the other wing geometries?
I do not think the TC's original question was phrased correctly, because even basic grade school physics about wing geometry would include the variables of air speed, angle of attack, airfoil shape different shapes, (sweep, delta shape, flexibility, ETC.) and chord wise dimension.
Just what is TC looking for with his question, if he just means wing tip to wing tip length? Surely he must know that there are a great many variables that can affect the lift capacity of a wing. What is the purpose of the question?

 

[boneh3ad]

Fact: There are more flying wings in use today than all commercial aircraft combined. Hang gliders and paragliders are tailless, flying wings and are enjoyed all over the world.

Call me crazy, but I am pretty sure that wasn't the point of the question (and response).

To increase L/D: for turbulent airfoils try this: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/hjap-uss020618.php

While a shark denticle may well prove to be an effective design for a vortex generator (VG), they still essentially work in the same manner as any other VG currently in use today. There's also the issue of the optimal placement being different depending on flight conditions. Further, that study was performed at a chord Reynolds number of $Re_c = 4\times 10^4$, which is two orders of magnitude less than that of a typical airplane.

or just use a laminar airfoil and very smooth surface finish.

This is not what a laminar flow (or, rather, natural laminar flow) airfoil is. There is a hell of a lot more to NLF than just a smooth surface. Further, most modern airliners already incorporate concepts from NLF into their wing design.

TC --- Just what is meant by Wing Span? Does it just mean the distance from wing tip to wingtip?

Yes, that is the meaning of wingspan. To incorporate other aspects of geometry, you'd talk about aspect ratio, OML, planform, etc.

 

[Sherwood Botsford]

Increase the density of air.

All those life equations have a term for density of air.

Pilots have to take this into account. On a hot day your max takeoff weight is much lower than on a cold day.

 

[CWatters]

+1

Many a pilot has flown up a high valley on a hot day only to find they don't have the lift to turn in the available space.

 

[FactChecker]

Increase the density of air.

All those life equations have a term for density of air.

Pilots have to take this into account. On a hot day your max takeoff weight is much lower than on a cold day.

I assume that the OP is asking about design changes, not acts of God.

 

[berkeman]

+1

Many a pilot has flown up a high valley on a hot day only to find they don't have the lift to turn in the available space.

Holy smokes! full throttle climb into a Split-S? Or just die?

 

[CWatters]

Holy smokes? full throttle climb into a Split-S? Or just die?

Some manage to crash and walk away...

http://nationalpost.com/news/canada...ivors-of-b-c-plane-crash-tell-harrowing-story

 

[FactChecker]

Some manage to crash and walk away...

http://nationalpost.com/news/canada...ivors-of-b-c-plane-crash-tell-harrowing-story

The F-16 is getting the Auto-GCAS (Auto Ground Collision Avoidance System) system. It can avoid those situations and has already saved several lives. ( see http://aviationweek.com/air-combat-...onscious-f-16-pilot-declassified-usaf-footage )

 

[jim hardy]

Hmmm. Just re=read original question...Two ideas come to mind:

1. Fly at altitude less than a couple wingspans so you're in 'ground effect'.
[image courtesy https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/maks-can-russias-caspian-sea-monster-rise-again-416156/ ]

2. Evacuate the wing so it's lighter than air.

old jim