Question

You are designing an aircraft to fly slowly at high altitude, so you want to minimize induced drag. Which of the following statements best describes the likely shape of the wing you will design?

Answer 1

To minimize induced drag in an aircraft designed for high-altitude slow flight, a wing with a very high aspect ratio, like the one on the U-2, is ideal.

Step-by-step explanation:

When designing an aircraft to fly slowly at high altitude with the goal of minimizing induced drag, the wing would have a very high aspect ratio, similar to the wing on the U-2 aircraft. A high aspect ratio means that the wing is long and slender, which is effective in reducing induced drag. This is attributed to the way airflows around the wings, producing lift more efficiently and with less vorticity at the wingtips, which is a major contributor to induced drag.

Complete question:

You are designing an aircraft to fly slowly at high altitude, so you want to minimize induced drag. Which of the following statements best describes the likely shape of the wing you will design?

A. The best wing for this mission will be short and stubby, like the wing on an F-104

B. The best wing for this mission will be a delta wing, like the wing on an F-106

C. The best wing for this mission will have a very high aspect ratio, like the wing on the U-2

S. The aspect ratio of the wing does not matter, since it has no effect on induced drag