Analytical and Experimental Studies on Modified Wing Configurations of Cessna 172-R Aircraft to Improve Performance

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of wing design on the performance of the Cessna 172-R aircraft, focusing on modifications to its wing geometry. The study proposes two alternate configurations: one with increasing the span length and retaining the existing chord length, and the other with increasing the chord length retaining the existing span length. Experimental and analytical studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of these two configurations. The study found that the modified wingspan configuration significantly enhanced the aircraft’s performance, with an increase in lift coefficient, range, and endurance by 13.2%, 26.15%, and 29.26%, respectively. Additionally, the drag coefficient was decreased by 8.12%, indicating the potential for reduced fuel consumption and operational costs. In contrast, the modified wing chord configuration did not improve the performance output. These findings underscore the critical role of wing design in aircraft performance and highlight the potential for modifications to wing geometry to provide significant improvements in efficiency and operational cost. The results of this study indicate the scope for further research in this area, with efforts to optimize aircraft performance and reduce environmental impact.