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Originally Posted by lumberjim
why aren't these designs being applied to other aircraft?
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Well...it looks gooofy, and aviators can be surprisingly conservative. The engineering of it is tricky...I suspect the wing shape has a weight penalty. And once you're airborne there's usually plenty of lift available, as long as you're willing to trade it for induced drag.
It's a rockin' performer on takeoff, but I bet the efficiency blows dead goats in cruise. Nonetheless, Custer apparently sued Fairchild claiming the A-10 Warthog violated his patent.
By the way,
The MidAtlantic Air Museum at the Reading Airport has a Channelwing...not currently flyable.