What is a typical characteristic of thin wings regarding icing accumulation?

Thin wings have a typical characteristic of catching more ice per square inch than thicker wings. This occurs because the thinner profile has a smaller surface area and less volume to disperse the airflow, which can lead to greater relative icing accumulations. When ice begins to form on a wing, it typically accumulates on the leading edges where the airflow is disrupted. Since thin wings are often designed for efficiency, they may have sharper leading edges that can create a more concentrated area for ice build-up.

Additionally, the aerodynamic design of thin wings may lead to higher local velocities at certain points, which affects how ice accretes and how the wing interacts with supercooled water droplets. Thicker wings generally have a larger surface area and can tend to spread icing effects over a broader area, potentially mitigating the impacts of ice accumulation compared to slimmer designs.

Understanding these dynamics is critical for pilots and engineers, as it highlights the importance of monitoring and responding to icing conditions, particularly for aircraft with a thinner wing profile.