{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "high-wing",
 "name": "High wing placement",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Aircraft design",
 "group": "Wing planforms",
 "year": null,
 "question": "Why are most RC trainers high-wing?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "wing planforms",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "high wing",
  "high wing aircraft",
  "high wing vs low wing",
  "high wing rc trainer",
  "shoulder wing",
  "high wing stability",
  "high wing dihedral",
  "pendulum effect high wing",
  "cabin monoplane"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 1,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/high-wing/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/high-wing/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "A high wing adds stable dihedral effect through wing-fuselage interference, so high-wing aircraft need less geometric dihedral than low-wing ones (Kitplanes, Wainfan; Wainfan rejects the pendulum explanation, while Leishman describes pendular stability with the c.g. below the lift).",
   "McCombs recommends about 5-7 deg wing dihedral for rudder-only high-wing RC models and about 0-2 deg for high-wing aileron models (Model Aviation).",
   "Extreme cases such as swept high wings may need anhedral (Kitplanes); the C-5 is a high-wing aircraft with anhedral (ERAU).",
   "Used on: C-5 Galaxy.",
   "The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above. Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value or range",
    "source"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "RC rudder-only, high wing dihedral",
     "about 5-7 deg",
     "McCombs 1994"
    ],
    [
     "RC with ailerons, high wing",
     "about 0-2 deg",
     "McCombs 1994"
    ],
    [
     "FF scale, high wing EVD",
     "0-3 deg",
     "McCombs 1994"
    ],
    [
     "Outdoor FF scale high wing",
     "about 1 deg",
     "McCombs 1992"
    ],
    [
     "Reference build",
     "1000 x 200 mm, 6 deg dihedral",
     "McCombs"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "High wing placement — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/high-wing/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- A high wing adds stable dihedral effect through wing-fuselage interference, so high-wing aircraft need less geometric dihedral than low-wing ones (Kitplanes, Wainfan; Wainfan rejects the pendulum explanation, while Leishman describes pendular stability with the c.g. below the lift).\n- McCombs recommends about 5-7 deg wing dihedral for rudder-only high-wing RC models and about 0-2 deg for high-wing aileron models (Model Aviation).\n- Extreme cases such as swept high wings may need anhedral (Kitplanes); the C-5 is a high-wing aircraft with anhedral (ERAU).\n- Used on: C-5 Galaxy.\n- The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above. Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.\n\nparameter  value or range  source\nRC rudder-only, high wing dihedral  about 5-7 deg  McCombs 1994\nRC with ailerons, high wing  about 0-2 deg  McCombs 1994\nFF scale, high wing EVD  0-3 deg  McCombs 1994\nOutdoor FF scale high wing  about 1 deg  McCombs 1992\nReference build  1000 x 200 mm, 6 deg dihedral  McCombs\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Kitplanes (B. Wainfan): Wind Tunnel: Roll's role in lateral stability (2008) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.kitplanes.com/wind-tunnel-135/\n- Model Aviation (AMA), W.F. McCombs: Wing and Tail Dihedral for Models (Dec 1994) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://library.modelaviation.com/article/wing-and-tail-dihedral-models\n- Model Aviation (AMA), W.F. McCombs: Vertical Tail Size for Models (Apr 1992) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://library.modelaviation.com/article/vertical-tail-size-models-1\n- Embry-Riddle (Leishman), Introduction to Aerospace Flight Vehicles: Wing Shapes and Nomenclature — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://eaglepubs.erau.edu/introductiontoaerospaceflightvehicles/chapter/wing-shapes-and-nomenclature/\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/high-wing/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=high-wing\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Kitplanes (B. Wainfan)",
   "title": "Wind Tunnel: Roll's role in lateral stability (2008)",
   "url": "https://www.kitplanes.com/wind-tunnel-135/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Model Aviation (AMA), W.F. McCombs",
   "title": "Wing and Tail Dihedral for Models (Dec 1994)",
   "url": "https://library.modelaviation.com/article/wing-and-tail-dihedral-models",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Model Aviation (AMA), W.F. McCombs",
   "title": "Vertical Tail Size for Models (Apr 1992)",
   "url": "https://library.modelaviation.com/article/vertical-tail-size-models-1",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Embry-Riddle (Leishman), Introduction to Aerospace Flight Vehicles",
   "title": "Wing Shapes and Nomenclature",
   "url": "https://eaglepubs.erau.edu/introductiontoaerospaceflightvehicles/chapter/wing-shapes-and-nomenclature/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "rectangular-wing",
  "tapered-wing",
  "elliptical-wing",
  "swept-wing",
  "forward-swept-wing",
  "delta-wing"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "Is a high wing more stable?",
   "a": "Yes in roll, through wing-fuselage interference, so it needs less dihedral (Kitplanes)."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": {
  "name": "Xem Studio Design License",
  "holder": "Xem Studio",
  "url": "https://xemstudio.com/license/",
  "note": "Xem Studio's own design: free to use, print, modify and sell things made from it; not to be republished or redistributed as files."
 },
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "high-wing-wing",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/high-wing/high-wing-wing.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/high-wing/high-wing-wing.stl",
   "note": "rectangular planform: span 1000, root 200, tip 200 mm, LE sweep 0°, dihedral 6°, NACA 2412"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/high-wing/index.md"
}