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Parasol wing

What is a parasol wing? · Standard part · basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio

Also called: parasol monoplane, parasol wing aircraft, parasol wing rc, pylon mounted wing, cabane struts wing, wing above fuselage, parasol wing flying boat

Exact dimensions. True size, with no printing tolerance added.

sizes
3 in table

Notes

  • A parasol wing sits above the fuselage on struts or a pylon. NASM contrasts the Catalina's parasol wing, which needed external bracing, with the Mariner's gull wing that did not (Smithsonian NASM).
  • Like a high wing it adds stable dihedral effect, so it needs little geometric dihedral (Kitplanes, Wainfan, on high wings).
  • On flying boats the raised wing keeps engines and props above spray (NASM, PBM entry).
  • Used on: Consolidated PBY Catalina.
  • 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.

Parasol wing size chart

parametervalue or rangesource
Bracingparasol wing needed external bracing (Catalina)Smithsonian NASM
RC with ailerons, high/parasolabout 0-2 deg dihedralMcCombs 1994 (high wing)
Reference build1000 x 200 mm, 2 degMcCombs

Where the files are

Other publishers' files are linked, not hosted. "verify" = check the license at the link before commercial use.

Smithsonian National Air and Space MuseumMartin PBM-5A MarinerwebPublisher's page; dimensions are facts
Kitplanes (B. Wainfan)Wind Tunnel: Roll's role in lateral stability (2008)webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts
Model Aviation (AMA), W.F. McCombsWing and Tail Dihedral for Models (Dec 1994)webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts

Free files

★ Free files 1 parts. Xem Studio design: free to use, print and sell things from; not to be republished as files. Xem Studio Design License. index.json

parasol-wing-wingrectangular planform: span 1000, root 200, tip 200 mm, LE sweep 0°, dihedral 2°, NACA 2412STEP · STL
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Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=parasol-wing

Parasol wing, isometric render of a generated part
Render of parasol-wing-wing from the free STEP; not to scale.

Fits with

Rectangular (constant-chord) wing, isometric render of a generated part
Rectangular (constant-chord) wing6 sizes★ 1 file
Tapered wing (taper ratio for minimum induced drag), isometric render of a generated part
Tapered wing (taper ratio for minimum induced drag)6 sizes★ 1 file
Elliptical wing, isometric render of a generated part
Elliptical wing5 sizes★ 1 file
Swept-back wing, isometric render of a generated part
Swept-back wing4 sizes★ 1 file
Forward-swept wing, isometric render of a generated part
Forward-swept wing4 sizes★ 1 file
Delta wing, isometric render of a generated part
Delta wing5 sizes★ 1 file

Questions

Is a parasol wing stable?

It behaves like a high wing, adding stable dihedral effect (Kitplanes).