wing wires

I was reading Vol 1 of the Wright Bros Papers.They tested various shapes for the interplane struts for their "Flyer". they found that a streamline shape had more drag than a rectangle rounded on the leading edge and sguared off on the trailing edge. Something similar to the Kamm(?) theory used in GP cars. Maybe speed had something to do with it, but I would think the same would apply to wires.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Spook:
The Wright wind tunnel of 1903and it's instrumentation was rather crude and would at best be used for low speed situation. A rectangular section with rounded cornes is an inefficient section of relatively high drag. A streamline section is much more efficient and has a much lower drag coefficient. For example an S.E.5a with RAF wires (with a streamline section) will have an airspeed 7 mph higher than the same aircraft with round wire or cable. I will look up the drag coefficients of various sections and report back to you with the documented facts.
Blue skies,
Dan-San Abbott

I"m sure you're right; only makes sense doesn't it. The Wrights tested several sections including rounded front and back, rounded front only and streamline. They found the streamline section had more drag then the rounded front edge only. Surprised me it did, but then I wondered how the Kamm theory might have accounted for it at low speeds. In any case assuming one section would be better than another just because it looks like it should be is almost always a bad idea; hence they tested to make sure. Smart fellas, the Wright Brothers.