# Compression lift

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Phenomenon allowing supersonic aircraft to ride their own shockwave

The [XB-70](/source/North_American_XB-70_Valkyrie) had [folding wingtips](/source/Folding_wing) to enhance both compression lift and directional stability at high speeds.

Rear view of the [F-14 Tomcat](/source/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat) showing the area between the engine nacelles. The area referred as the "pancake" provided compression lift in flight.

In [aerodynamics](/source/Aerodynamics), **compression lift** refers to the increased pressure under an [aircraft](/source/Aircraft) that uses [shock waves](/source/Shock_wave) generated by its own [supersonic](/source/Supersonic) flight to generate [lift](/source/Lift_(force)). This can lead to dramatic improvements in lift for [supersonic](/source/Supersonic)/[hypersonic](/source/Hypersonic) aircraft. [Clarence Syvertson](/source/Clarence_Syvertson) and [Alfred J. Eggers](/source/Alfred_J._Eggers) discovered this phenomenon in 1956 as they analyzed abnormalities at the reentry of [nuclear warheads](/source/Nuclear_warhead).[1]

The basic concept of compression lift is well known; "[planing](/source/Planing_(boat))" boats reduce drag by "[surfing](/source/Surfing)" on their own [bow wave](/source/Bow_wave) in exactly the same fashion. Using this effect in aircraft is more difficult, however, because the "wake" is not generated until supersonic speeds are reached, and is highly angled. Aircraft have to be carefully shaped to take full advantage of this effect. In addition, the angle of the [shock waves](/source/Shock_wave) varies greatly with speed, making it even more difficult to design a craft that gains significant lift over a wide range of speeds.

Higher speed designs using compression lift, [waveriders](/source/Waverider), remain an interesting possibility for [hypersonic](/source/Hypersonic) vehicle designs, although only testbed models have been flown.[1] The [Boeing X-51 (Waverider)](/source/Boeing_X-51_Waverider) also uses compression lift.

## See also

- [Index of aviation articles](/source/Index_of_aviation_articles)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Compression_Lift_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Compression_Lift_1-1) [Compression Lift](http://www.aerospaceweb.org/design/waverider/design.shtml)

## External links

- [The Bird is on the Wing: Aerodynamics and the Progress of the American Airplane](https://books.google.com/books?id=GDDQ8jQmPTEC&dq=%22Compression+lift%22&pg=PA127)

- [The Story of the Boeing Company By Bill Yenne, William Yenne](https://books.google.com/books?id=Mi0K7kUyQFgC&dq=%22Compression+lift%22&pg=PA121)

- [Bomber R&D Since 1945: The Role of Experience By Mark A. Lorell, Alison Saunders](https://books.google.com/books?id=IXSjAFBZ1MgC&dq=%22Compression+lift%22&pg=PA24)

- [Hypersonic Vehicle Design](http://www.aerospaceweb.org/design/waverider/design.shtml)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Compression lift](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compression_lift) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compression_lift?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.