Quote:
Originally Posted by 2003protege
and good grief...3-5 miles?!? It really is hard to put your head around just how big the wake is from a commercial airliner--especially for being so aerodynamic.
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Sorry for jumping in late here....I have a clarification from earlier in this thread.
Form drag is related to aerodynamics and is drag based on structure and shape. Airliner wakes are made of induced drag which is a byproduct of lift. A heavy clean plane makes the largest wake in the form of two wing tip vortices. Vortices are not fun or safe to fly in if you want to live very long. Drafting on the ground behind form drag wake is much safer in this context
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