Drela SuperGee II — a 1.5 m discus-launch glider, drawn to the planvsGossamer Albatross II — same span, two-thirds the area
root section ag455ct02r → l7769 · tip section ag47ct02r → — · area 218576 mm² → 45296522 mm² · span 1498 mm → 29260 mm · tip chord 94 mm → 1404 mm · mac 151 mm → 1552 mm
units
These analyses are not directly comparable
- different trim loads (2 N vs 991 N) — each wing is carrying a different weight
The geometry comparison below is unaffected — it is a comparison of shapes, not of runs.
- Drela SuperGee II — a 1.5 m discus-launch glider, drawn to the plan
- Gossamer Albatross II — same span, two-thirds the area
What changed
| Property | Drela SuperGee II | Gossamer Albatross II | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry | ||||
| Span | 1498 mm | 29260 mm | +27762 mm | +1853.3% |
| Root chord | 183 mm | 1651 mm | +1468 mm | +802.2% |
| Tip chord | 94 mm | 1404 mm | +1310 mm | +1393.6% |
| Sweep parameter | 3.400 | 7.476 | +4.076 | +119.9% |
| Dihedral | 4.00° | 3.60° | -0.40° | -10.0% |
| TE thickness | 0 mm | 2 mm | +1 mm | +400.0% |
| Sections | 30 | 40 | +10 | +33.3% |
| Tip cap reach | 0.400 | 0.200 | -0.200 | -50.0% |
| Derived | ||||
| Aspect ratio | 10.266 | 18.901 | +8.634 | +84.1% |
| Area | 218576 mm² | 45296522 mm² | +45077947 mm² | +20623.5% |
| Taper | 0.514 | 0.850 | +0.337 | +65.6% |
| MAC | 151 mm | 1552 mm | +1401 mm | +924.6% |
| Sections | ||||
| Root section | ag455ct02r | l7769 | 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 — “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×); “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×). 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) | Drela SuperGee II | Gossamer Albatross II |
|---|---|---|
| 9.63 | 16.73 | 22.41 |
| 10.45 | 18.11 | 26.48 |
| 10.67 | 18.32 | 27.60 |
| 11.30 | 18.91 | 29.36 |
| 11.71 | 19.10 | 30.52 |
| 12.15 | 19.30 | 31.66 |
| 12.75 | 19.33 | 33.21 |
| 13.00 | 19.35 | 33.78 |
| 13.78 | 19.13 | 35.55 |
| 13.85 | 19.11 | 35.63 |
| 14.70 | 18.62 | 36.77 |
| 14.82 | 18.53 | 36.94 |
| 15.55 | 17.97 | 36.91 |