delta wing

noun

: a triangular swept-back airplane wing with a usually straight trailing edge

Examples of delta wing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The signature delta wings needed a super aggressive angle to generate lift at low speeds, which forced the engineers to fit Concorde with its signature nose, which was lowered during takeoff and landing so the crew could see the runway. Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 29 Mar. 2024 The kit consists of 2,083 pieces and faithfully captures the jet’s iconic shape, including its long and skinny fuselage and curved delta wing. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2023 The diminutive, largely aluminum single-engine design incorporated a cropped delta wing blended with the fuselage body. Eric Tegler, Popular Mechanics, 11 July 2021 This design could take the form of a delta wing – a triangular shape used by Concorde, among others – or simply a swept wing, at an angle optimized for faster-than-sound travel. Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 27 Jan. 2023 The aircraft’s shape is reminiscent of a delta wing aircraft, used in military and supersonic jets like the Concorde, but the Falcon Solar takes it a step farther with curved wings and an elegant, bird-like fuselage. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 12 May 2022 The 71-foot-long fuselage was designed for aerodynamic efficiency, with a delta wing and three J85-15 engines by General Electric for supersonic speeds. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 13 Jan. 2022 Ryan Aeronautical selected the delta wing for its new X-13 Vertijet aircraft that takes off straight up. Thomas E. Stimson, Popular Mechanics, 15 July 2021 Any delta wing has a large area, so wing loading is low. Thomas E. Stimson, Popular Mechanics, 15 July 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'delta wing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

delta entry 1; from its shape

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of delta wing was in 1946

Dictionary Entries Near delta wing

Cite this Entry

“Delta wing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delta%20wing. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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