Editing Fixed-wing aircraft (section)

===Wings===
The wings of a fixed-wing aircraft are static planes extending to either side of the aircraft. When the aircraft travels forwards, air flows over the wings that are shaped to create lift.

====Structure====

Kites and some lightweight gliders and airplanes have flexible wing surfaces that are stretched across a frame and made rigid by the lift forces exerted by the airflow over them. Larger aircraft have rigid wing surfaces.

Whether flexible or rigid, most wings have a strong frame to give them shape and to transfer lift from the wing surface to the rest of the aircraft. The main structural elements are one or more spars running from root to tip, and ribs running from the leading (front) to the trailing (rear) edge.

[[file:Wing Components.png|thumb|right|Major components of a rigid wing.]]

Early airplane engines had little power and light weight was critical. Also, early airfoil sections were thin, and could not support a strong frame. Until the 1930s, most wings were so fragile that external bracing struts and wires were added. As engine power increased, wings could be made heavy and strong enough that bracing was unnecessary. Such an unbraced wing is called a [[cantilever]] wing.

====Configuration====
{{main|Wing configuration|Wing}}
[[File:Morane-Saulnier Type L - Captured with german insigna.jpg|thumb|Captured [[Morane-Saulnier L]] wire-braced parasol monoplane]]
The number and shape of wings vary widely. Some designs blend the wing with the fuselage, while left and right wings separated by the fuselage are more common. 

Occasionally more wings have been used, such as the three-winged [[triplane]] from World War I. Four-winged [[quadruplane|quadruplanes]] and other [[Multiplane (aeronautics)|multiplane]] designs have had little success.

Most planes are [[monoplane]]s, with one or two parallel wings. [[biplane|Biplanes]] and [[Triplane|triplanes]] stack one wing above the other.  [[tandem wing|Tandem wings]] place one wing behind the other, possibly joined at the tips. When the available engine power increased during the 1920s and 1930s and bracing was no longer needed, the unbraced or cantilever monoplane became the most common form.

The [[planform (aeronautics)|planform]] is the shape when seen from above/below. To be aerodynamically efficient, wings are straight with a long span, but a short chord (high [[aspect ratio]]). To be structurally efficient, and hence lightweight, wingspan must be as small as possible, but offer enough area to provide lift.

To travel at [[transonic]] speeds, variable geometry wings change orientation, angling backward to reduce drag from supersonic shock waves. The [[variable sweep wing|variable-sweep wing]] transforms between an efficient straight configuration for [[takeoff and landing]], to a low-drag swept configuration for high-speed flight. Other forms of variable planform have been flown, but none have gone beyond the research stage. The [[swept wing]] is a straight wing swept backward or forwards.

[[Image:Dassault Mirage G8.jpg|thumb|Two [[Dassault Mirage G]] prototypes, one with wings swept (top)]]

The [[delta wing]] is a triangular shape that serves various purposes. As a flexible [[Rogallo wing]], it allows a stable shape under aerodynamic forces, and is often used for kites and other ultralight craft. It is supersonic capable, combining high strength with low drag.

Wings are typically hollow, also serving as fuel tanks. They are equipped with [[Flap (aeronautics)|flaps]], which allow the wing to increase/decrease drag/lift, for take-off and landing, and acting in opposition, to change direction.