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At supersonic speeds, increasing the aspect ratio of a wing

  • A.Reduces wave drag in proportion to the aspect ratio
  • B.Always reduces the total drag as it does subsonically
  • C.Has no effect on any drag component
  • D.Brings little benefit and can raise wave drag

Answer: D

The strong subsonic payoff comes through induced drag, which is a smaller share of the total supersonically. Meanwhile a longer span pushes the tips outside the Mach cone from the apex and adds wave drag. Supersonic wings are therefore short and highly swept rather than long and slender.

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