Piper PA-28 Cherokee — the Hershey-bar wingvsPiper J-3 Cub — a rectangular wing that works
root section naca652415 → usa35b · dihedral 7.00° → 1.00° · aspect ratio 5.624 → 6.945 · span 9144 mm → 10730 mm · area 14868144 mm² → 16577850 mm² · mac 1626 mm → 1545 mm
units
These analyses are not directly comparable
- different trim loads (9565 N vs 5396 N) — each wing is carrying a different weight
The geometry comparison below is unaffected — it is a comparison of shapes, not of runs.
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee — the Hershey-bar wing
- Piper J-3 Cub — a rectangular wing that works
What changed
| Property | Piper PA-28 Cherokee | Piper J-3 Cub | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry | ||||
| Span | 9144 mm | 10730 mm | +1586 mm | +17.3% |
| Root chord | 1626 mm | 1545 mm | -81 mm | -5.0% |
| Tip chord | 1626 mm | 1545 mm | -81 mm | -5.0% |
| Dihedral | 7.00° | 1.00° | -6.00° | -85.7% |
| Derived | ||||
| Aspect ratio | 5.624 | 6.945 | +1.321 | +23.5% |
| Area | 14868144 mm² | 16577850 mm² | +1709706 mm² | +11.5% |
| MAC | 1626 mm | 1545 mm | -81 mm | -5.0% |
| Sections | ||||
| Root section | naca652415 | usa35b | changed | — |
| Shapedeviation at matched span fractions, 64 samples | ||||
| Chord deviation (max) | 81 mm | |||
| Chord deviation (RMS) | 81 mm | |||
| Twist deviation (max) | 0.00° | |||
| Dihedral deviation (max) | 468 mm | |||
| Tip cap deviation (max) | 797 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 — “Piper PA-28 Cherokee” integrates to CL 0.007 against the polar’s CL at the same α (this analysis predates the loading reporting its own) 0.271 (0.03×); “Piper J-3 Cub” integrates to CL 0.002 against the polar’s CL at the same α (this analysis predates the loading reporting its own) 0.330 (0.01×). 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) | Piper PA-28 Cherokee | Piper J-3 Cub |
|---|---|---|
| 59.40 | 11.06 | 22.81 |
| 62.69 | 12.23 | 23.78 |
| 67.79 | 14.04 | 25.06 |
| 68.12 | 14.15 | 25.12 |
| 72.89 | 16.37 | 25.88 |
| 76.85 | 18.21 | 26.17 |
| 78.00 | 18.66 | 26.25 |
| 83.10 | 20.63 | 26.21 |
| 85.57 | 21.58 | 26.03 |
| 88.20 | 22.46 | 25.85 |
| 93.30 | 24.17 | 25.19 |