How do you select wing planform parameters?

Wing planform selection balances multiple requirements: Sweep - 25-35 deg for transonic flight (delay compressibility drag), lower for subsonic aircraft. Taper ratio (tip/root chord) - 0.2-0.5 typical, reduces structural weight and improves span loading, but too much taper causes tip stall issues. Twist - Washout (tip incidence lower) improves stall characteristics and span loading for minimum induced drag. Dihedral - Provides lateral stability, typically 3-7 degrees for low-wing aircraft, less for high-wing (already stable). Airfoil selection - Supercritical for transonic (flat upper surface delays shock), NACA 6-series for subsonic, thin sections for high-speed military. Integration: Planform affects structural weight, aerodynamic efficiency, handling qualities, and manufacturing complexity. CFD and wind tunnel refine initial selections. Span constrained by airport compatibility (gate limits).