This principle dictates that an aircraft's cross-sectional area should change smoothly from nose to tail to minimize wave drag. To achieve this, designers often pinch or narrow the fuselage where the wings attach, creating a distinctive wasp-waist or Coke-bottle shape. Applying this rule allows aircraft to punch through the sound barrier with significantly less engine thrust.
Heard on the job
The fighter's pinched fuselage is a classic application of the area rule to get it past Mach 1.
Insider tip
If you see a supersonic jet with a fuselage that looks like a Coke bottle, you are looking at the area rule in action.
Also heard as
- Whitcomb area rule