{
 "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": "rectangular-wing",
 "name": "Rectangular (constant-chord) wing",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Aircraft design",
 "group": "Wing planforms",
 "year": null,
 "question": "Why do so many RC trainers use a rectangular wing?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "wing planforms",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "rectangular wing",
  "constant chord wing",
  "hershey bar wing",
  "straight wing rc plane",
  "rectangular wing vs tapered",
  "rectangular planform",
  "rc trainer wing shape",
  "untapered wing",
  "rectangular wing efficiency"
 ],
 "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/rectangular-wing/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/rectangular-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 rectangular wing has the same chord root to tip (taper ratio 1.0), which makes it the simplest to build and the reference shape for mean-chord concepts (Kitplanes; ERAU).",
   "Its span loading is 'far from' elliptical, so it pays an induced-drag penalty (Kitplanes, Wainfan). Lifting-line notes give an induced drag factor delta = 0.055 for an AR 6 rectangular wing and delta = 0.105 at AR 10 (Iowa State AerE 310), i.e. span efficiency e = 1/(1+delta) of about 0.95 and 0.90.",
   "For a rectangular wing aspect ratio is simply span/chord (NASA Glenn).",
   "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": [
    [
     "Taper ratio",
     "1.0",
     "Kitplanes"
    ],
    [
     "Aspect ratio",
     "AR = span / chord",
     "NASA Glenn"
    ],
    [
     "Induced drag factor delta, AR 6",
     "0.055 (e = 0.948)",
     "Iowa State AerE 310"
    ],
    [
     "Induced drag factor delta, AR 10",
     "0.105 (e = 0.905)",
     "Iowa State AerE 310"
    ],
    [
     "Span efficiency penalty example",
     "e = 0.85 -> 1.176x ideal induced drag",
     "Kitplanes (Wainfan)"
    ],
    [
     "Reference build",
     "1000 x 167 mm (AR 6)",
     "computed"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Rectangular (constant-chord) wing — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/rectangular-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 rectangular wing has the same chord root to tip (taper ratio 1.0), which makes it the simplest to build and the reference shape for mean-chord concepts (Kitplanes; ERAU).\n- Its span loading is 'far from' elliptical, so it pays an induced-drag penalty (Kitplanes, Wainfan). Lifting-line notes give an induced drag factor delta = 0.055 for an AR 6 rectangular wing and delta = 0.105 at AR 10 (Iowa State AerE 310), i.e. span efficiency e = 1/(1+delta) of about 0.95 and 0.90.\n- For a rectangular wing aspect ratio is simply span/chord (NASA Glenn).\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\nTaper ratio  1.0  Kitplanes\nAspect ratio  AR = span / chord  NASA Glenn\nInduced drag factor delta, AR 6  0.055 (e = 0.948)  Iowa State AerE 310\nInduced drag factor delta, AR 10  0.105 (e = 0.905)  Iowa State AerE 310\nSpan efficiency penalty example  e = 0.85 -> 1.176x ideal induced drag  Kitplanes (Wainfan)\nReference build  1000 x 167 mm (AR 6)  computed\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Kitplanes (B. Wainfan): Design Process: Planform Effects on Span Loading and Drag (2020) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.kitplanes.com/design-process-planform-effects-on-span-loading-and-drag/\n- Iowa State University (AerE 310, H. Hu): Lecture 34: 3D Wing Aerodynamics, Lifting-Line Theory P3 — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.aere.iastate.edu/~huhui/teaching/2024-01S/AerE310/Classnotes/AerE310-Lecture-34-3D-Wing-Aerodynamics-Lifting-Line-theory-P3.pdf\n- NASA Glenn Research Center: Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics: Wing Geometry — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/wing-geometry\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/rectangular-wing/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=rectangular-wing\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Kitplanes (B. Wainfan)",
   "title": "Design Process: Planform Effects on Span Loading and Drag (2020)",
   "url": "https://www.kitplanes.com/design-process-planform-effects-on-span-loading-and-drag/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Iowa State University (AerE 310, H. Hu)",
   "title": "Lecture 34: 3D Wing Aerodynamics, Lifting-Line Theory P3",
   "url": "https://www.aere.iastate.edu/~huhui/teaching/2024-01S/AerE310/Classnotes/AerE310-Lecture-34-3D-Wing-Aerodynamics-Lifting-Line-theory-P3.pdf",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "NASA Glenn Research Center",
   "title": "Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics: Wing Geometry",
   "url": "https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/wing-geometry",
   "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": [
  "tapered-wing",
  "elliptical-wing",
  "swept-wing",
  "forward-swept-wing",
  "delta-wing",
  "cranked-double-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 rectangular wing inefficient?",
   "a": "Its induced drag is a few percent higher than ideal: e is about 0.95 at AR 6 (Iowa State notes), which is often worth the simpler build."
  }
 ],
 "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": "rectangular-wing-wing",
   "formats": [
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   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/rectangular-wing/rectangular-wing-wing.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/rectangular-wing/rectangular-wing-wing.stl",
   "note": "rectangular planform: span 1000, root 167, tip 167 mm, LE sweep 0°, dihedral 3°, NACA 2412"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/rectangular-wing/index.md"
}