Some definitions

1. Airfoil: The section of a wing by a plane parallel to the plane of symmetry

2. Chordline: The shortest line joining the leading and trailing edges of the airfoil. The length of this
line is called chord
3. Camberline: The locus of points halfway between the upper and lower surfaces as measured
perpendicular to the chord. The maximum deviation of the camberline from the chordline is called
camber
4. Thickness (𝒕): Distance between the upper and lower parts of the profile measured perpendicular
to the chord. The ratio of maximum thickness expresses as a fraction of the chord is called
thickness-to-chord ratio (𝛿)
5. Angle of attack (𝜶): When an aircraft is in the plane of symmetry, the angle between the direction
of motion and the chord of the airfoil. If the angle varies along the wing, the wing is said to be
twisted. This twist can be geometric as well as aerodynamic. If 𝛼 increases towards the tip of the
wing, the wing has wash-in. If 𝛼 decreases towards the tip, the wing has wash-out.
6. Planform: The shape of the wing as seen on a top view of the aircraft. If the wing leading and
trailing edges are straight lines, root ends of leading and trailing edge are extended to aircraft
plane of symmetry to calculate the (gross) wing area (𝑺). For arbitrary curved leading and trailing
edges, the root ends are connected to the plane of symmetry by straight lines perpendicular to it
to calculate gross wing area. The plan area of the exposed wing without the fuselage contribution
is called net wing area (𝑺𝑵 ).
7. Wingspan (𝒃): Distance between wingtips. Half of this distance is the semi-span (𝑠)
8. Root chord (𝒄𝒓 ): The distance between the intersections of the leading and trailing edges with
the fuselage centerline when extended.
9. Tip chord (𝒄𝒕 ): The chord measured at the tip
10. Taper ratio (𝝀): Ratio of tip to root chord
11. Aspect ratio (𝑨𝑹): Ratio of square span to the wing area
12. Standard mean chord (𝒄̅):
𝑏
∫2𝑏 𝑐𝑑𝑦
−
2
𝑐̅ = 𝑏
∫2𝑏 𝑑𝑦
−
2
13. Aerodynamic mean chord (𝒄̅𝐴 )
𝑏
∫2𝑏 𝑐 2 𝑑𝑦
−
2
𝑐̅𝐴 = 𝑏
∫2𝑏 𝑐𝑑𝑦
−
2

14. Wing sweep (𝚲): The angle between a line drawn along the span at a constant fraction of the
chord from the leading edge and a line perpendicular to the centerline
15. Dihedral (𝟐𝚪): The angle between a horizontal plane containing the root chord and a plane
midway between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing