On 12/08/2014 05:54, Steve Leonard wrote:
....
Now, back to the original discussion. Small fuselages and skinny
pilots have an unfair advantage. Talk to an aerodynamicist. Wing
span is measured from tip to tip. You don't have "longer wings" by
having a "skinnier fuselage". Wing Area INCLUDES the planform "in"
the fuselage, so a skinnier fuselage does NOT change area or aspect
ratio. Any performance change is due to reduced total wetted area
(less on fuselage, slightly more exposed wing skin).

The usual "A" in the drag equation in this context is cross-sectional
area of the fuselage (and wing, maybe), not wetted area.

GC

And the benefit
is likely to be larger the faster you fly. But, as others have said,
the difference between planes of the same type is likely as big or
bigger than what is seen between a small fuselage and the "average"
fuselage of otherwise the same type.

Just my opinion.

Steve