Why do airplane wings have round leading edges?

Question

I don’t understand all the internet explanations using terms like “Range of attack” “Stall speed”

I’m trying to understand why it matters that the wing has a blunt front, if just angling a flat sheet slightly upwards should in my theory still lift it up at speed.

Although those round edges intuitively make sense somehow, i just want to understand why they work.

In: 0

Answer 1

Well, I just realized this is true for the U2 spy plane AND the smash hit band U2. Mind blown.

One reason is it buffers extreme “cutting” through the air. If it was more like a blade it would violently scoop air above or under the wing and be uncontrollable.