Expert: Mark Janus - 11/30/2009

Question
Hello,  I am a student pilot researching a few homebuilts.  The major difference between two of the designs that I am looking at is that one is a low-wing and the other a mid-wing.  Is there any aerodynamic advantage to either one?  They are both aerobatic designs if that makes any difference.  Thank you!

Mike

Answer
Hi Mike,

Without fairings and fillets, the mid wing would be the "less drag" configuration...  with fairings there is limited aerodynamic difference...  there is significant structural/usable volume/weight issues though...  there may be some slight differences to be considered if inverted flight is in the picture (since it's aerobatic)...  wing dihedral is generally going to differ between the designs...and hence have an effect on the "inverted" performance

Hope this helps a bit..

mj