Principles

Lesson 01
of Flight
Air flow and wing design

Classification: External
 Scope;

• Air flow & wing design

Classification: External
 Objectives

• To understand the basic fluid

dynamics related to airflow
and its applicability.

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 Learning Objectives

• Describe the streamline pattern around an

airfoil.
• Describe the stagnation point.
• Describe the following parameters of an
airfoil section: leading edge, trailing edge
and chord line.
• State the following parameters of a wing:
span, wing area, wing planform, mean
aerodynamic chord
• MAC, dihedral angle, sweep angle, angle of
incidence, angle of attack, geometric wing
twist.
• Describe the force resulting from the
pressure distribution around an airfoil.

Classification: External
 Streamline

Streamlines

Aerofoil

A streamline is the path traced by a particle of air in a steady airflow, and streamlines do
not cross each other.

Air particles move around the aircraft (around anything actually) in specific trajectories.

When streamlines are shown close together it illustrates increased velocity, and vice versa.

Classification: External
 Streamtube
Streamtube

A streamtube is an imaginary tube made of streamlines.

The streamlines can be enclosed in a streamtube, where we can apply the continuity
equation.
By using the continuity equation we can conclude the following:
• Diverging streamlines mean a decrease in airspeed, decelaration and pressure rise.
• Converging streamlines imply an increase in airspeed, aceleration and the pressure drop.

Classification: External
 Streamlines and the Streamtube
Dynamic Static
Pressure Pressure

By using these effects, an aerofoil can generate the aerodynamic forces

required for flight.

LIFT (Due to reduced static pressure)

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 Stagnation Point

Stagnation Point is that point on an aerofoil from which the airflow divides into the
one which flows above and the other which flows below.

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 Aerofoil Terminology

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 Aerofoil Terminology

Aerofoil
A shape capable of producing lift with relatively high efficiency.

Chord Line
A straight line (of indefinite length) joining the centers of curvature of the leading and trailing
edges of an aerofoil.

Chord
The distance between the leading and trailing edges measured along the chord line.

Angle of Incidence
The angle between the wing root chord line and the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. (This
angle is fixed for the wing but may be variable for the tailplane).

Classification: External
 Aerofoil Terminology

Mean Line or Camber Line

A line joining the leading and trailing edges of an aerofoil, equidistant from the upper and
lower surfaces.

Maximum Camber
The maximum distance of the mean line from the chord line. Maximum camber is expressed
as a percentage of the chord, with its location as a percentage of the chord aft of the leading
edge.
When the camber line lies above the chord line the aerofoil is said to have positive camber,
and if the camber line is below the chord line, it is said to have negative camber.
A symmetrical aerofoil has no camber because the chord line and camber line are
coincidental.

Classification: External
 Aerofoil Terminology

Thickness/Chord Ratio
The maximum thickness or depth of an aerofoil section expressed as a percentage of the
chord, with its location as a percentage of the chord aft of the leading edge.

Leading Edge Radius

The radius of curvature of the leading edge. The size of the leading edge radius can
significantly affect the initial airflow characteristics of the aerofoil section.

Classification: External
 Aerofoil Terminology

Relative Airflow

Direction: air parallel to and in the opposite direction to the flight path of the aircraft.

Condition: air close to, but unaffected by the presence of the aircraft.

Magnitude: the magnitude of the Relative Airflow is the TAS.

Centre of Pressure (CP)

The point on the chord line through which LIFT IS CONSIDERED TO ACT.

Classification: External
 Aerofoil Terminology

Angle of attack is defined as the angle between the chord line and the relative
airflow. Can also be referred to as AERODYNAMIC INCIDENCE.

The angle between the chord line and the effective

airflow is referred to as the
EFFECTIVE ANGLE OF ATTACK.

Classification: External
 Force resulting from the pressure distribution

The total reaction is the resultant of all the aerodynamic forces acting on the aerofoil section.
TOTAL
Lift is the aerodynamic force which acts at 90° to the LIFT REACTION
Relative Airflow.

Drag is the aerodynamic force which acts parallel to and

in the same direction as the Relative Airflow.

Angle of Attack
Relative Air Flow DRAG

Aircraft Flight
Path

Classification: External
 Geometric(Washout) Wing Twist

Geometric twist is the reducing the angle of incidence from root to tip, and therefore causing a
lower angle of attack at the tips than at the roots. Helps reduce chances of wingtip stall(which is
good) and also maintains aileron effectiveness close to stall.

Classification: External
 Review Learning Objectives

• Describe the streamline pattern around an

airfoil.
• Describe the stagnation point.
• Describe the following parameters of an
airfoil section: leading edge, trailing edge
and chord line.
• State the following parameters of a wing:
span, wing area, wing planform, mean
aerodynamic chord
• MAC, dihedral angle, sweep angle, angle of
incidence, angle of attack, geometric wing
twist.
• Describe the force resulting from the
pressure distribution around an airfoil.

Classification: External
 Review Objectives

• To understand the basic fluid

dynamics related to airflow
and its applicability.

Classification: External
 Any
Question?

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 Thank You

Classification: External