DRAWING BOARD: Changing Shape
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Progress

Ever since the invention of the first aircraft, aeronautical engineers have continuously attempted to improve the design and shape. Aircraft have come a long way. Originating with light balsa wood and stretched fabric, progressing to top-of-the-line materials assembled using the highest quality tools that result in extreme precision. Designs are now moving towards lighter, stronger, safer and more fuel-efficient aircraft's. Using state-of-the-art computers and materials, that can withstand tremendous stress and "wear 'n tear."

The Concorde

The shapes of aircraft are transforming into streamlined and more aerodynamic machines, such as the Concorde. This type of shape creates less drag, thus enabling higher speeds and greater fuel efficiency.

Aircraft Categorization

Aircraft are categorized mainly by their configurations. They are categorized by their wing size and styles. For example, monoplanes have a single wing (on either side of the fuselage); biplanes, have two wings, one on top of the other; and even, although they are very rare, tri-planes and quad-planes. A tandem-wing craft has two wings, one placed forward of the other.

Wing Shapes

The wing planform is the shape it forms when viewed from above.

Delta wings are formed in the shape of the Greek letter delta and have triangular wings lying at roughly a right angle to the fuselage. The supersonic Concorde features delta wings. Swept wings are angled, usually to the rear and often at an angle of about 35 degrees. Forward swept wings are being used on some research craft and may lead the way in future aviation.

Another configuration limited to military craft is the so-called "flying wing". It is a tail-less craft that has all of its elements encompassed within the wing structure.

Unlike the flying wing, the lifting-body aircraft (such as the US space shuttle) generates lift in part or totally by the shape of the fuselage rather than the wing, which is either severely reduced in size or taken off completely.

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