Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators, page 380, figure 6.9 is a graph of percent
reduction in induced drag coefficient versus ratio of wing height to wing
span.

Bob Gardner

"Tony" wrote in message
oups.com...
I haven't found a decent reference for this -- can anyone help?

Consider a clean low speed airplane -- maybe one of the kit built ones.
Does anyone have some quantitative measure of how much drag is reduced
if the airplane is flown say half or quarter of a wingspan above the
ocean?

Would we be talking about a few percent less drag, or is it a big
number, like 30%? Sea gulls and other long winged birds tend to fly
just above the water, ducks and geese like to reduce drag by flying in
vees, but don't often cruise just above the water.

References would be helpful: I hate having stories I write wrong for
technical reasons.