Elliptical wing
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An elliptical wing is a wing planform shape, first seen on aircraft in the 1930s, which minimizes induced drag. Elliptical taper shortens the chord near the wingtips in such a way that all parts of the wing contribute equally to lift, improving aerodynamic efficiency due to a greater Oswald efficiency number in the induced drag equation.
The elliptical wing has seen only limited use, primarily because the compound curves involved are difficult and costly to manufacture. Furthermore, the wing's uniform lift distribution causes the entire span of the wing to stall simultaneously, potentially causing loss of control with little warning. To compensate, aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire used a modified elliptical wing with washout, though such compromises increase induced drag and reduce the wing’s efficiency.
Few aircraft have used elliptical wings, and even fewer have seen mass production, most in the 1930s and 40s. The English Supermarine Schneider Trophy racers were some of the most successful designs, and significantly influenced the later Spitfire fighter. The German Heinkel He 70 of the early 1930s was a fast mailplane and reconnaissance bomber, and the predecessor to the Heinkel He 111 bomber, early models of which used an elliptical wing. In addition, several contemporary aircraft used a more conventional wing with elliptical wingtips in an attempt to gain some benefits without the added cost, but the aerodynamic benefit was found to be minimal.
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