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by jadyoyster 1824 days ago
This page explain things well: https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/UEET/StudentSite/dynamicso...

AFAIK the wing shape thing is about reducing drag (turbulence?)–not essential but hard to fly well without a nicely shaped wing.

1 comments

That's a terribly oversimplified explanation. May I recommend this one instead:

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/foam_wi...

When learning about flight, keep asking yourself "Then how do planes fly upside down?" Any explanation which does not mesh with sustained, inverted flight is oversimplified to the point of uselessness and inaccuracy.

Actually meant to post this link, sorry! https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/wrong1.html