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Rectangular (constant-chord) wing

Why do so many RC trainers use a rectangular wing? · Standard part · basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio

Also called: 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

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

sizes
6 in table

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.

Rectangular (constant-chord) wing size chart

parametervalue or rangesource
Taper ratio1.0Kitplanes
Aspect ratioAR = span / chordNASA Glenn
Induced drag factor delta, AR 60.055 (e = 0.948)Iowa State AerE 310
Induced drag factor delta, AR 100.105 (e = 0.905)Iowa State AerE 310
Span efficiency penalty examplee = 0.85 -> 1.176x ideal induced dragKitplanes (Wainfan)
Reference build1000 x 167 mm (AR 6)computed

Where the files are

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

Kitplanes (B. Wainfan)Design Process: Planform Effects on Span Loading and Drag (2020)webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts
Iowa State University (AerE 310, H. Hu)Lecture 34: 3D Wing Aerodynamics, Lifting-Line Theory P3webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts
NASA Glenn Research CenterBeginner's Guide to Aeronautics: Wing GeometrywebPublisher's page; dimensions are facts
Embry-Riddle (Leishman), Introduction to Aerospace Flight VehiclesWing Shapes and NomenclaturewebPublisher'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

rectangular-wing-wingrectangular planform: span 1000, root 167, tip 167 mm, LE sweep 0°, dihedral 3°, NACA 2412STEP · STL
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Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=rectangular-wing

Rectangular (constant-chord) wing, isometric render of a generated part
Render of rectangular-wing-wing from the free STEP; not to scale.

Fits with

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
Cranked arrow / double delta wing, isometric render of a generated part
Cranked arrow / double delta wing4 sizes★ 1 file

Questions

Is a rectangular wing inefficient?

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.