Flying wing
A tailless aircraft with crew and payload inside the wing.
A flying wing is a type of tailless fixed-wing aircraft without a distinct fuselage. All crew, cargo, fuel, and equipment are contained within the main wing structure. Small external features like pods, nacelles, blisters, booms, or vertical stabilizers may be present. While a pure flying wing is theoretically the most aerodynamically efficient (lowest drag) configuration for a fixed-wing aircraft, the absence of conventional stabilizing surfaces and their associated controls makes it inherently unstable and difficult to fly.
The design was heavily studied in the 1920s, often alongside other tailless concepts. During World War II, both Nazi Germany and the Allies made progress in developing flying wings. Military interest declined in the 1950s with the rise of supersonic aircraft but revived in the 1980s due to the design’s potential for stealth, leading to the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber. There has been ongoing interest in using flying wings for large transport roles, such as cargo or passenger aircraft. Companies like Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Armstrong Whitworth have conducted design studies for flying wing airliners, but none have been built. The concept is mostly suited to subsonic flight; no flying wing has ever been observed exceeding the speed of sound.
Making a wing deep enough to house the pilot, engines, fuel, landing gear, and other equipment increases its frontal area compared to a conventional wing and slender fuselage. This can actually result in higher drag and lower efficiency. The typical solution is to keep the wing reasonably thin and attach various blisters, pods, nacelles, and fins to accommodate practical needs. The problem worsens at supersonic speeds, where thick wings create sharp drag increases and must be kept thin; no supersonic flying wing has ever been built.
For stable flight without constant correction, any aircraft needs directional stability in yaw. Flying wings lack a good place to attach an efficient vertical stabilizer. Any fin must be mounted directly on the rear of the wing, giving a small moment arm from the aerodynamic center, making the fin inefficient and requiring a large area. Such a fin adds weight and drag, potentially negating the flying wing’s advantages.
- First patent
- 16 February 1876
- Patent filers
- Alphonse Pénaud and Paul Gauchot
- Early stable design
- Dunne D.5 (1913)
- Notable military development periods
- Second World War (Nazi Germany and Allies); 1980s (stealth technology)
- Resulting aircraft
- Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber
- Speed limit
- subsonic; no flying wing has ever been observed faster than the speed of sound
Lore & Background
The basic flying wing configuration became an object of significant study during the 1920s, often in conjunction with other tailless designs. In the Second World War, both Nazi Germany and the Allies made advances in developing flying wings. Military interest waned during the 1950s with the development of supersonic aircraft, but was renewed in the 1980s due to potential for stealth technology, eventually leading to the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
A clean flying wing is theoretically the most aerodynamically efficient design for a fixed-wing aircraft, offering high structural efficiency for a given wing depth. However, lacking conventional stabilizing surfaces and associated control surfaces, it suffers from being unstable and difficult to control. Efforts to reconcile these compromises can reduce or negate expected advantages. Further difficulties arise from fitting the pilot, engines, and payload within the wing depth, which can increase frontal area and drag.
Directional stability in yaw is problematic because flying wings lack an efficient attachment point for a vertical stabilizer. Solutions include wing sweepback, wash-out, and differential drag methods such as split ailerons, spoilers, or spoilerons. The existence of proverse yaw was not proved until NASA flew its Prandtl-D tailless demonstrator.
Reader's Guide
The flying wing's significance lies in its theoretical aerodynamic efficiency and its practical challenges. While a pure flying wing is presented as the lowest-drag configuration, the lack of conventional stabilizing surfaces makes it unstable and difficult to control, and efforts to address this can reduce or negate expected advantages. The design is mostly suited to subsonic aircraft; no supersonic flying wing has ever been built. Military interest renewed in the 1980s due to stealth potential, leading to the B-2 Spirit. There has been continual interest in using it for large transport roles, with Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Armstrong Whitworth undertaking design studies, though no such airliners have been built. The concept remains a subject of study, with related designs such as blended wing body and lifting body aircraft sometimes casually referred to as flying wings.
Did You Know?
- The first patent for a flying wing was filed on 16 February 1876 by French engineers Alphonse Pénaud and Paul Gauchot.
- No flying wing has ever been observed faster than the speed of sound.
- Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Armstrong Whitworth have undertaken design studies on flying wing airliners, but none have been built.
More in Aircraft Components, Part 3 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced