airfoils
Curved flight surfaces
Airfoils are surfaces designed to produce lift or control direction when air moves across them.
The cross-sectional shape of an airplane wing is the classic airfoil, curved on top and flatter beneath so that air traveling over it creates upward pressure.
Propeller blades, helicopter rotors, and turbine blades are also airfoils.
The engineer tested various airfoil designs in the wind tunnel.
Mechanism for vertical transport
- dragResistance through fluid
- camberDesigned surface curvature
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
- angle of attackWing-to-airflow orientation
stall · boundary layer · laminar flow · turbulence · thrust · efficiency · aspect ratio · vortex
Limb enabling flight
- flapOne-sided attached cover
- aileronWing-mounted roll control
- slatNarrow wooden strip
- spoilerPremature ending disclosure
elevator · rudder · stabilizer · propeller blade · rotor blade · canard · winglet · fuselage
Side-facing outline
- cross-sectionView through interior
- thicknessDepth of material
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
- symmetricalEven on all sides
asymmetrical · supercritical · laminar · reflex · wind tunnel · optimization · taper · sweep
Rotating airfoil converting flow
- fan bladeRotating airflow component
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- gliderUnpowered flying craft
- sailplaneEngineless soaring aircraft
hydrofoil · windmill · compressor · impeller · racing car · spoiler · downforce · ventilation
lift
Mechanism for vertical transport
angle of attack · stall · boundary layer · laminar flow · turbulence · thrust · efficiency · aspect ratio · vortex · downwash
wing
Limb enabling flight
spoiler · elevator · rudder · stabilizer · propeller blade · rotor blade · canard · winglet · fuselage · leading edge
profile
Side-facing outline
- cross-sectionView through interior
- thicknessDepth of material
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
symmetrical · asymmetrical · supercritical · laminar · reflex · wind tunnel · optimization · taper · sweep · twist
turbine blade
Rotating airfoil converting flow
sailplane · hydrofoil · windmill · compressor · impeller · racing car · spoiler · downforce · ventilation · HVAC
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
- glidingglider, gliders, sailplane, sailplanes, soaring