Which design feature is NOT a way that aircraft manufacturers address the effects of compressibility?

To understand why thicker wings is not a way aircraft manufacturers address the effects of compressibility, it’s important to consider how compressibility affects airflow around the aircraft as it approaches transonic and supersonic speeds.

Compressibility refers to the changes in air density and pressure that occur when an aircraft travels at speeds close to or exceeding the speed of sound. In these conditions, aircraft can experience a range of aerodynamic issues, including shockwaves and changes in lift and drag characteristics.

Aircraft manufacturers address compressibility primarily by optimizing wing design to reduce drag and manage airflow effectively. Swept back wings, for example, are designed to minimize the amount of air pressure hitting the wing as speed increases, allowing the aircraft to maintain better performance at high speeds. Thinner wings are often chosen to reduce the overall cross-sectional area that air must move around, thereby reducing drag associated with compressibility effects.

On the other hand, thicker wings tend to increase the drag and can exacerbate compressibility issues since their larger cross-section can lead to a larger shockwave area at transonic speeds. Consequently, while thicker wings may provide benefits in terms of structural integrity and lift at lower speeds, they do not effectively counter the negative effects of compressibility at high speeds.

Overall,