A lifting-fuselage/wing aircraft having low drag at a selected cruise
condition. The aircraft includes (a) a lifting fuselage having a
cross-section constituting an airfoil in a majority of vertical planes
taken parallel to the flight direction and an aspect ratio (AR.sub.f) of
0.33 to 1.10; (b) wings fixed to the fuselage having an aspect ratio
(AR.sub.w) of at least 5.0; (c) a mechanism controlling aircraft attitude;
and (d) a mechanism propelling the aircraft; wherein the wings and
fuselage produce lift in varying proportions depending upon flight
conditions as follows: (i) the aircraft has a cruise design point in which
the fuselage lift coefficient (C.sub.LF) is 0.08 or less, and (ii) the
fuselage lift coefficient is at least 0.50 at an angle of attack
(.alpha..sub.LZo) of 10.degree., in level flight at sea level (ISA) with
all movable lift enhancing devices retracted.