F-8 Supercritical Wing Aircraft

F-8 Supercritical Wing Aircraft. . , Marker 1: , This research aircraft was the first airplanes to demonstrate the transonic performance capabilities of a supercritical wing. This airplane demonstrated a drag-rise Mach number of 0.96 at cruise lifting conditions. The resulting technology base permitted an increase in cruise Mach number for transport aircraft from approximately 0.8 to above 0.9. Wings of this type are now routinely utilized on all new military and commercial transport aircraft. Pilot: Tom C. Mcmurtry, Marker 2: , F-8 Supercritical Wing Richard T. Whitcomb conducted research at NASA Langley Research Center that led to the invention and patent of the NASA supercritical airfoil., Supercritical airfoils delay formation and reduce the strength of shock waves over the wings in the transonic realm (just below and just above the speed of sound). This reduces drag, leading to higher cruising speed, improved fuel efficiency, and greater range capability., Supercritical wings are now commonplace on virtually every modern subsonic commercial transport, military jet, and new helicopter rotor. Research showed that the wing increased the transonic efficiency of the F-8 by as much as 15 percent. Combined with another NASA development, winglets, commercial airliners experience efficiency improvements of approximately 6%., Rockwell International built the new, composite wing for NASA. Because it lacked antiskid brakes or wing flaps, the modified F-8 could not land on Langley's runway so was flown only at Edwards.