Page 37 - Beginner's Guide to Aviation
P. 37
THEORY OF FLIGHT
An aircraft capable of controlled flight with Lift and Drag. As we learnt from Parts of an aircraft the wing has several different components to control these 2 forces. The aerofoil is the cross-sectional shape of a wing and these are the main features of the aerofoil.
aEROFOIL tERMINOLOGY
Location of Maximum thickness
Maximum thickness
Maximum camber
Location of Maximum camber
FUN FACT:
slats are located on the leading edge of a aerofoil while flaps and ailerons are located at the trailing edge of a aerofoil.
The chord is characteristic dimension of the aerofoil represented by the chord line which is a straight line joining the leading edge and trailing edge of the aerofoil.
The thickness and thickness distribution of an aerofoil are defined by the maximum thickness and its ocation. The maximum thickness and its location are expressed as fractions or percentages of the chord.
Chord line
Mean-camber line
Chord
Trailing edge
Leading edge
Upper surface
Lower surface