Leading edge

A straight leading edge may be swept or unswept, the latter meaning that it is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

Some aircraft, like the General Dynamics F-111, have swing-wings where the sweep of both wing and leading edge can be varied.

Heating was a major contributor to the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia during re-entry on February 1, 2003.

[citation needed] When sailing into the wind, the dynamics that propel a sailboat forward are the same that create lift for an airplane.

The term leading edge refers to the part of the sail that first contacts the wind.