Quote:
Originally Posted by JulianEdgar
I don't see why such a design would have lower drag than a shape developed to have low lift and drag near the ground - as the primary criteria for its development.
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Because it would be optimized for the conditions experienced not just a calculated set of non infinite parameters. Or as aerohead calls it rolling floor effects. If you take your calculated profile and then modify it for local conditions, either the ordinates would be copies or very similar depending on how the aspect ratio is dealt with. Otoh, I have seen 1/1 aspect ratio low drag profiles and they are........ odd.
By the way, look out the window of a commercial airline in flight and notice how lumpy the upper surface is. Definitely not surgical smooth. Ditto for one piece composite or military although those are smoother.