Gossamer Albatross II — same span, two-thirds the areavsDrela SuperGee II — a 1.5 m discus-launch glider, drawn to the plan
root section l7769 → ag455ct02r · tip section — → ag47ct02r · tip cap reach 0.200 → 0.400 · area 45296522 mm² → 218576 mm² · span 29260 mm → 1498 mm · tip chord 1404 mm → 94 mm
units
These analyses are not directly comparable
- different trim loads (991 N vs 2 N) — each wing is carrying a different weight
The geometry comparison below is unaffected — it is a comparison of shapes, not of runs.
- Gossamer Albatross II — same span, two-thirds the area
- Drela SuperGee II — a 1.5 m discus-launch glider, drawn to the plan
What changed
| Property | Gossamer Albatross II | Drela SuperGee II | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry | ||||
| Span | 29260 mm | 1498 mm | -27762 mm | -94.9% |
| Root chord | 1651 mm | 183 mm | -1468 mm | -88.9% |
| Tip chord | 1404 mm | 94 mm | -1310 mm | -93.3% |
| Sweep parameter | 7.476 | 3.400 | -4.076 | -54.5% |
| Dihedral | 3.60° | 4.00° | +0.40° | +11.1% |
| TE thickness | 2 mm | 0 mm | -1 mm | -80.0% |
| Sections | 40 | 30 | -10 | -25.0% |
| Tip cap reach | 0.200 | 0.400 | +0.200 | +100.0% |
| Derived | ||||
| Aspect ratio | 18.901 | 10.266 | -8.634 | -45.7% |
| Area | 45296522 mm² | 218576 mm² | -45077947 mm² | -99.5% |
| Taper | 0.850 | 0.514 | -0.337 | -39.6% |
| MAC | 1552 mm | 151 mm | -1401 mm | -90.2% |
| Sections | ||||
| Root section | l7769 | ag455ct02r | changed | — |
| Tip section | — | ag47ct02r | changed | — |
| Shapedeviation at matched span fractions, 64 samples | ||||
| Chord deviation (max) | 1468 mm | |||
| Chord deviation (RMS) | 1403 mm | |||
| Twist deviation (max) | 0.00° | |||
| Dihedral deviation (max) | 868 mm | |||
| Tip cap deviation (max) | 14280 mm | |||
Performance
CoefficientsDimensionless — how good the shape is, independent of size and speed.
ForcesNewtons and watts — what each wing actually carries and costs at this condition.
Spanwise
withheld — “Gossamer Albatross II” integrates to CL 0.118 against the polar’s CL at the same α (this analysis predates the loading reporting its own) 0.613 (0.19×); “Drela SuperGee II” integrates to CL 0.056 against the polar’s CL at the same α (this analysis predates the loading reporting its own) 0.371 (0.15×). A loading that does not integrate back to its own wing’s CL is not a coarse curve, it is a wrong one.
air, ρ = 1.225 kg/m³
data
| V (kt) | Gossamer Albatross II | Drela SuperGee II |
|---|---|---|
| 9.63 | 22.41 | 16.73 |
| 10.45 | 26.48 | 18.11 |
| 10.67 | 27.60 | 18.32 |
| 11.30 | 29.36 | 18.91 |
| 11.71 | 30.52 | 19.10 |
| 12.15 | 31.66 | 19.30 |
| 12.75 | 33.21 | 19.33 |
| 13.00 | 33.78 | 19.35 |
| 13.78 | 35.55 | 19.13 |
| 13.85 | 35.63 | 19.11 |
| 14.70 | 36.77 | 18.62 |
| 14.82 | 36.94 | 18.53 |
| 15.55 | 36.91 | 17.97 |