Which term describes the wing shape as seen from above?

• A. Planform.
• B. Plan view.
• C. Pneumatic.
• D. Pitot-static head.

Answer: (A)

Wing planform describes the outline of the wing as seen from above. It captures the geometry you’d notice when looking straight down at the aircraft—how wide the wing is, how the leading and trailing edges are shaped, whether it’s rectangular, tapered, swept, or delta, and how the tip narrows. This term is specifically used to refer to the actual shape of the wing, which affects aerodynamic characteristics like lift distribution and efficiency. Plan view is a general overhead perspective, not the technical term for the wing’s shape itself, so it’s not as precise for describing the wing’s geometry. The other two terms, pneumatic and pitot-static head, relate to air-pressure systems and instruments, not to the wing’s shape.