airfoil
Curved flight component
An airfoil is a surface shaped to produce lift or control direction when air flows over it—the cross-sectional profile of a wing, blade, or sail.
Aircraft wings, helicopter rotors, and wind turbine blades all depend on airfoil geometry.
The curved upper surface and flatter lower surface create pressure differences that generate lift: The engineer tested various airfoil designs in the wind tunnel.
Limb enabling flight
- camberDesigned surface curvature
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
- flapOne-sided attached cover
- slatNarrow wooden strip
spoiler · aileron · rudder · elevator · stabilizer · winglet · dihedral · leading edge
Mechanism for vertical transport
- dragResistance through fluid
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- boundary layerViscous region near walls
vortex · laminar flow · Bernoulli · circulation · angle of attack · coefficient · separation · downwash
Rotating blades creating thrust
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- rotorSpinning mechanical assembly
- fan bladeRotating airflow component
- turbofanHigh-bypass aircraft engine
turbojet · pitch · hub · rotation · thrust · efficiency · twist · cavitation
Rising effortlessly upward
- gliderUnpowered flying craft
- sailplaneEngineless soaring aircraft
- hang-gliderUnpowered airborne craft
- paragliderFoot-launched aircraft with fabric wing
thermals · updraft · altitude · float · drift · descent · efficiency · aspect ratio
Outer covering or frame
- boatWatercraft for travel
- watercraftVehicle for aquatic travel
- catamaranDouble-hulled sailing craft
- strutProud, showy gait
cavitation · planing · submerged · foiling · sailing · speed · hydroplane · lift
Controlled airstream apparatus
- profileSide-facing outline
- cross-sectionView through interior
- optimizationMaximizing efficiency or performance
- simulationImitation of real processes
modeling · prototype · testing · design · efficiency · performance · load · stress
wing
Limb enabling flight
slat · spoiler · aileron · rudder · elevator · stabilizer · winglet · dihedral · leading edge · trailing edge
lift
Mechanism for vertical transport
- dragResistance through fluid
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
boundary layer · vortex · laminar flow · Bernoulli · circulation · angle of attack · coefficient · separation · downwash · pressure gradient
propeller
Rotating blades creating thrust
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- rotorSpinning mechanical assembly
- fan bladeRotating airflow component
turbofan · turbojet · pitch · hub · rotation · thrust · efficiency · twist · cavitation · impeller
soaring
Rising effortlessly upward
- gliderUnpowered flying craft
- sailplaneEngineless soaring aircraft
- hang-gliderUnpowered airborne craft
paraglider · thermals · updraft · altitude · float · drift · descent · efficiency · aspect ratio · performance
hull
Outer covering or frame
- boatWatercraft for travel
- watercraftVehicle for aquatic travel
- catamaranDouble-hulled sailing craft
strut · cavitation · planing · submerged · foiling · sailing · speed · hydroplane · lift · water
wind tunnel
Controlled airstream apparatus
- profileSide-facing outline
- cross-sectionView through interior
- optimizationMaximizing efficiency or performance
simulation · modeling · prototype · testing · design · efficiency · performance · load · stress · fatigue
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
- Aeronauticslift, thrust, drag, wing, propeller
- Aerodynamic Shapesteardrop, nosecone, fairing, bullet shape, streamlined body
- aircraft partswing, wings, fuselage, aileron, ailerons
- balsa craftbalsa wood, hobby kits, fuselage, tail section, building plans
- model aircraftmodel airplane, model kits, RC helicopter, quadcopter, model aircraft
airfoilspoiler
Premature ending disclosure
air brake · parachute · speed brake · streamlined body · blunt object