Aircraft Wing Design

Welcome! This Artifact Immersion will explore aircraft wing design. Using the aircraft at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's National Mall Building, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, and our digital collection, we will present wing shapes and how the shape contributes to the aircraft's functionality.

Aircraft need crucial pieces of equipment to fly: wings, engines, and landing gear, just to name a few. Let’s take a closer look at wing characteristics and their effect on aircraft’s flight. What is the relationship between them? Using this website, can you find a correlation?

As you explore the collection, think about how engineers design aircraft with a particular mission or purpose in mind. What elements of the design help the aircraft accomplish its mission? Are there trends that you notice?

Teacher's Guide