What are the two basic wing sweep configurations?

• A. Straight and swept back
• B. Swept back and delta
• C. Forward swept and backward swept
• D. Straight and delta

Answer: (A)

Wing sweep describes how the wing’s leading edge is angled relative to the fuselage. The two basic configurations are straight wings, with no sweep, and swept-back wings, where the leading edge angles backward from root to tip. Straight wings are most efficient at lower speeds and give good low-speed lift with predictable stall behavior, which is why they’re common on light, low-speed aircraft. Swept-back wings are used to improve performance at higher subsonic and transonic speeds by delaying wave drag and allowing higher cruise speeds, though they come with higher stall speeds and different handling characteristics at low speeds. The other options—forward swept and delta—represent less common or distinct types of wing shapes, but they are not the two fundamental sweep configurations.