High wing / Low wing configurations.

[Bennie Vorster]

High wing / Low wing configurations, which one is handling the best in turbulence gusty winds and x-wind factors.

[Biggles]

Would imagine that the high dihedral on a low wing would make it more suseptable to gusts from the side...

[Morph]

A dihedral helps bring a plane back to a neutral position after it has been disturbed and gives the plane lateral stability, i.e. more stable rolls,

High wing advantages
Better view of the ground and surrounding countryside
Better wing clearence on landing
Easier to preflight
Easier to get in to

Low Wing Advantages
Better view of the sky, not much to see there
With the wings being lower to the ground on landing the ground effect is better reducing drag more and you can float longer

I would say High wings are more stable, because the weight is below the wing, and acts like a pendulum keeping the right side up.

To me the biggest factor in stability in Turbulance is wing loading, i.e how much weight per Sq inch your wing carries. The higher the wing loading the better. Obviusly this has a negative effect on glide. Smaller wings are better in turbulance and they are faster. The stall speeds, aprroach speeds etc are also higher

Horses for Courses I would say

[Aerosan]

Dont know why but I for one feels much safer in a low wing when the grey stuff gets unstable. A lo wing feels more stabl to me. Like I said to me"

[Thunderboy]

Morph, am I right in thinking is it better to have a short wing on the coast where you have more lift (higher density) but more turbulence then say up here where you need lift because of our elevation and so need a longer wing?

[Morph]

I suppose you are right, I think my little clipped wing with it's 503 will struggle fully loaded up at the reef altitudes, especially when hot. I know when I do a cross country (solo) and I am loaded with luggage(20kg) and full fuel(75l), plus an additional 25liters on the back seat I get 500 to 700fpm climb. By the time I reach 7000ft to go over the mountains I am lucky to get 300fpm.

Shorter wings at altitude will require more power to get them off the ground. (If my plane had a 582 that would be a different story)

Generally speaking a shorter wing gives you better performance wrt speed and roll rate but at a loss of lift.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Weight alos anpther factor. Heavier aerie will land faster and possibly be less susseptable to X winds. The RV in X winds is a pleasure. The Cubby is not. Bigger bliks I have found the low wings to handle turbulance better than the higher wings. my 2c...

Bush flying high wing is possibly better (Also somewhere to hide from sun when stranded waiting for pax in Kalahari. Also easier to sleep under (ask Krusty) )

Regardsless of what we all say. BUDGET will dictate your choice, followed by personal pref and mission.....