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Q:

Why is laminar flow important in an aircraft?

A:

Laminar flow is the opposite of turbulent flow. It is the smooth flow of a fluid over a surface. Though a boundary layer of air "sticks" to a wing, the air overtop should be moving quickly and smoothly to reduce friction drag.  Engineers want to design aircraft with laminar flow over their wings to make them more aerodynamic and efficient.

Ask an Explainer
Posted on September 27, 2015 at 2:16 am
Categories:
Gravity & Air
Aerodynamics
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