von Kármán wingspan

The von Kármán wingspan is a term used in aerodynamics to describe the length of an aircraft's wings that is most effective for generating lift when flying at high speeds. It is named after mathematician Theodore von Kármán, who studied the relationship between wingspan and acceleration of airflow around aircraft. Essentially, it reflects the optimal wing length where the flow of air over the wings creates the most efficient lift without unnecessary drag. Understanding this helps in designing aircraft that are faster and more stable by balancing wingspan with other factors affecting flight performance.