text: very high speed flight does not favor the use of 
  high aspect ratio planforms. Low aspect ratio 
  planforms have structural advantages and 
  allow the use of thin, low drag sections for high 
  speed flight. The aerodynamics of transonic 
  and supersonic flight also favor short span, low 
  aspect ratio surfaces. Thus, the modern con- 
  figuration of airplane designed for high speed 
  flight will have a low aspect ratio planform 
  with characteristic aspect ratios of two to four. 
  The most important 
  impression that should 
  result is that the typical modern configuration 
  will have high angles of attack for maximum 
  lift and very prodigious drag due to lift at low 
  flight speeds. This fact is of importance to 
  theNaval Aviator because the majority of pilot- 
  caused accidents occur during this regime of 
  flight-during 
  takeoff, approach, and landing. 
  Induced drag predominates in these regimes of 
  flight. 
  
  The modern configuration of high speed air- 
  plane usually has a low aspect ratio planform 
  with high wing loading. When wing sweep- 
  back is coupled with low aspect ratio, the wing 
  lift curve has distinct curvature and is very flat 
  at high angles of attack, i.e., at high CL, C, in- 
  creases very slowly with an increase in 01. In 
  addition, the drag curve shows extremely rapid 
  rise at high lift coefficients since the drag due 
  to lift is so very large. These effects produce 
  flying qualities which are distinctly different 
  high aspect ratio 
  from a more “conventional” 
  airplane configuration. 