{
 "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": "inverted-gull-wing",
 "name": "Inverted gull wing",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Aircraft design",
 "group": "Wing planforms",
 "year": null,
 "question": "Why did the Corsair have an inverted gull wing?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "wing planforms",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "inverted gull wing",
  "corsair wing",
  "f4u corsair wing",
  "bent wing",
  "inverted gull wing rc",
  "stuka wing",
  "w wing aircraft",
  "why corsair bent wing",
  "inverted gull wing advantages"
 ],
 "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/inverted-gull-wing/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/inverted-gull-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": [
   "An inverted gull wing dips down from the fuselage then rises outboard. On the F4U Corsair it gave ground clearance for a 13 ft propeller and reduced drag at the wing-fuselage joint (Smithsonian NASM).",
   "Wind-tunnel data favoured a wing meeting the fuselage at right angles; the bent wing let a low wing do that while allowing an even shorter landing gear than a low wing, avoiding a long, heavy gear (US Naval Institute).",
   "Used on: Vought F4U Corsair.",
   "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": [
    [
     "Corsair propeller diameter",
     "13 ft 1 in (NASM); 13 ft 3 in (USNI)",
     "Smithsonian NASM; USNI"
    ],
    [
     "Engine",
     "R-2800, 1,850 hp",
     "Smithsonian NASM"
    ],
    [
     "Wing-fuselage junction",
     "right angle for low interference drag",
     "USNI"
    ],
    [
     "Reference build angles",
     "illustrative (no published angle fetched)",
     "illustrative"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Inverted gull wing — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/inverted-gull-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- An inverted gull wing dips down from the fuselage then rises outboard. On the F4U Corsair it gave ground clearance for a 13 ft propeller and reduced drag at the wing-fuselage joint (Smithsonian NASM).\n- Wind-tunnel data favoured a wing meeting the fuselage at right angles; the bent wing let a low wing do that while allowing an even shorter landing gear than a low wing, avoiding a long, heavy gear (US Naval Institute).\n- Used on: Vought F4U Corsair.\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\nCorsair propeller diameter  13 ft 1 in (NASM); 13 ft 3 in (USNI)  Smithsonian NASM; USNI\nEngine  R-2800, 1,850 hp  Smithsonian NASM\nWing-fuselage junction  right angle for low interference drag  USNI\nReference build angles  illustrative (no published angle fetched)  illustrative\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Vought F4U-1D Corsair — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://si.edu/object/nasm_A19610124000\n- US Naval Institute, Naval History Magazine: Designing the Bent-Wing Bird (Feb 1995) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/1995/february/designing-bent-wing-bird\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/inverted-gull-wing/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=inverted-gull-wing\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum",
   "title": "Vought F4U-1D Corsair",
   "url": "https://si.edu/object/nasm_A19610124000",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "US Naval Institute, Naval History Magazine",
   "title": "Designing the Bent-Wing Bird (Feb 1995)",
   "url": "https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/1995/february/designing-bent-wing-bird",
   "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": "Why the bent wing on the Corsair?",
   "a": "Prop clearance for a large propeller, shorter gear, and a low-drag right-angle wing root (NASM; USNI)."
  }
 ],
 "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": "inverted-gull-wing-wing",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/inverted-gull-wing/inverted-gull-wing-wing.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/inverted-gull-wing/inverted-gull-wing-wing.stl",
   "note": "gull planform: span 1000, root 200, tip 120 mm, LE sweep 0°, dihedral -5°, NACA 2412"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/inverted-gull-wing/index.md"
}