Page 37 - Beginner's Guide to Aviation

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