delta wing
1
7.0
- noun
- /ˈdɛltə wɪŋ/
- Specialized
:
ala delta
- To do that, to achieve that "cross-range," the Shuttle Orbiter needed to have a big delta wing.
Examples
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The resulting Zagi platform is a delta wing aircraft that costs less than $1,000.
Academic text (2011) -
A delta wing would do the job, but that meant much more surface area would have to be covered by the thermal protection system.
Academic text (2011) -
Launched from an expendable rocket, this delta-wing vehicle would use hypersonic lift to bounce off the atmosphere to lose speed before re-entry and glide to a landing.
Academic text (2011) -
Given the Air Force-dictated Orbiter cargo bay volume of 15 feet by 60 feet, plus the delta wing and cross-range requirement, it meant a much higher heating rate on the Orbiter than the original NASA design (which was designed to one thing and one thing only: take crews to and from a space station).
Blog text (20) -
The delta wing design allows for improved stability at high speeds, making it a popular choice for supersonic aircraft.
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Many modern fighter jets utilize a delta wing shape to enhance maneuverability and performance during aerial combat.
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The glider's unique triangular delta wing provides exceptional lift and efficiency during long flights.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound combines 'delta' (triangle-shaped) + 'wing' (aircraft lifting surface) to denote a triangle-shaped airplane wing; this meaning is directly and literally derivable from the constituents. Although somewhat technical, the formation is compositional and parallels similar compounds in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the parts should understand it.
Etymology
Delta wing comes from the Greek letter delta, which is a 'triangle', and the word wing, because the wing is shaped like a triangle. That's why the name refers to triangle-shaped airplane wings used to help very fast planes fly better and stay steady.